bold
-) Adjective.
-) Pronunciation: bəʊld.
-) Etymology: from Middle English bald.
-) Comparative form: bolder.
-) Superlative form: boldest.
-) 1. (Of a person or another animal) who manifests boldness or courage; acting without fear or without apparent fear.
-) Synonyms: courageous, daring, fearless, intrepid, fearless, dauntless, valiant, audacious.
-) Antonyms: timid, fearful, cowardly, shy, timid.
-) Translation: courageux, in French; corajudo, in Spanish; coraggioso, in Italian.
For many hours the immediate vicinity of the low framework upon which I lay, had been literally swarming with rats. They were wild, bold, ravenous -- their red eyes glaring upon me as if they waited but for motionless on my part to make me their prey.
Edgar Poe
At first, the ravenous animals were startled and terrified at the change -- at the cessation of movement. They shrank alarmedly back; many sought the well. But this was only for a moment. I had not counted in vain upon their voracity. Observing that I remained without motion, one or two of the boldest leaped upon the framework, and smelt at the surcingle.
Edgar Poe
… in the western or black chamber the effect of the fire-light that streamed upon the dark hangings through the blood-tinted panes, was ghastly in the extreme, and produced so wild a look upon the countenances of those who entered, that there were few of the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all.
Edgar Poe
I do not believe the boldest of them ever ventured to address a compliment to her.
Carey… Only the governess 1889
[…] some of the English being on shore filling their water-casks, the Spaniards became bolder, and watching an opportunity when the sailors were hard at work, poured down with their 200 horse from the hills, slew some of them, and made a few prisoners.
Robert Kerr… Voyages and Travels
-) Phrase: to make bold: to venture courageously (to do a thing):
About an hour ago, I made bold to thrust myself among a group of the crew.
Edgar Poe
We had passed through walls of piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs. I paused again, and this time I made bold to seize Fortunato by an arm above the elbow.
Edgar Poe
-) 2. (Of a personal action) manifesting boldness or courage.
-) Synonyms: daring, brave.
The method of the theft was not less ingenious than bold.
Edgar Poe
This bold speech actually proceeded from Mrs. Sherwin! I had never before heard her utter an opinion in her husband's presence--such an outburst from /her,/ was perfectly inexplicable. She pronounced the words with desperate rapidity, and unwonted power of tone, […. eying me] all the while [….] with a very strange expression.
Wilkie Collins… Basil 1850
On our walks, we were unmolested, […] but their conduct was bolder and more unconcerned than that of the Taheitians.
Robert Kerr… Voyages and Travels
-) 3. (Of something corporeal) standing prominently as if boldly.
It contains five figures in bold relief, each twenty-four inches high.
The Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 172
One of the places was in the cliff of the sea, about half way down from the summit, in a strong bold vein, containing some copper ore.
John Williams… Natural History
-) 4. a. (Of a coast, shore, etc.) steep; abrupt; rising steeply from deep water. b. (Of water near a steep shore) deep.
[…] the ocean is as deep there as might have been anticipated in the neighbourhood of a bold coast.
Charles Lyel… Principles of geology
There are no shoals or other dangers about the island, the shores being remarkably bold and the water deep.
Edgar Poe… The Narrative…
The depth of the ocean around the coast, from three to four miles distance from the shore, is generally from twenty to thirty fathoms, and bold water extends close to the cliffs and shores.
Haliburton… An historical and statistical account… 1829
-) Words derived from bold: boldly, boldness.
