Adventurous definitions and example sentences on Wordnik

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Definitions (8)

American Heritage Dictionary (3)

adjective Inclined to undertake new and daring enterprises.
adjective Hazardous; risky.
Syntax Note
Synonyms: adventurous, adventuresome, audacious, daredevil, daring, venturesome
These adjectives mean inclined to undertake risks: adventurous pioneers; an adventuresome prospector; an audacious explorer; a daredevil test pilot; daring acrobats; a venturesome investor.

Century Dictionary (3)

Inclined or willing to incur hazard or engage in adventures; bold to encounter danger; daring; venturesome; courageous; enterprising. In many a doubtful fight, Was never known a more advent'rous knight. Dryden, Hind and Panther, 1. 2207. Th' adventurous baron the bright locks admired. Pope, R. of the L., ii. 29.
Full of hazard; attended with risk; exposing to danger; requiring courage; hazardous: as, an adventurous undertaking. Of instrumental harmony, that breathed Heroic ardour to adventurous deeds. Milton, P. L., vi. 66. A Greek temple preserves a kind of fresh immortality in its concentrated refinement, and a Gothic cathedral in its adventurous exuberance. H. James, Jr., Trans. Sketches, p. 36.
Synonyms Adventurous, Enterprising, Rash, Reckless, Foolhardy, venturesome, venturous. The adventurous man incurs risks from love of the novel, the arduous, and the bold, trusting to escape through the use of his bodily and mental powers; he would measure himself against difficult things. When this spirit does not go so far as to deserve the name of rashness or foolhardiness, it is considered a manly trait. The enterprising man is alert to undertake new and large things, not necessarily involving risk; he is constantly breaking out of routine. The rash man hastens to do a thing with little thought of the consequences, and generally in the heat of feeling. With the foolhardy man the risks are so great and the absence of thought is so entire that he seems to have the hardihood of the fool. The reckless man has the impetuosity of the rash man, but he is more careless of consequences. The rash man is too precipitate; the reckless man shows temerity; the foolhardy man is careless or defiant even when he undertakes the impossible. Commerce is unexpectedly confident and serene, alert, adventurous, and unwearied. Thoreau, Walden, p. 130. There have not been wanting enterprising and far-seeing statesmen who have attempted to control and direct the Spirit of the Age. W. K. Clifford, Lectures, I. 80. He is rash, and very sudden in choler, and, haply, may strike at you. Shak., Othello, ii. 1. I am one, my liege, Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world Have so incens'd, that I am reckless what I do to spite the world. Shak., Macbeth, iii. 1. The foolhardy levity of shallow infidelity proceeds from a morbid passion for notoriety, or the malice that finds pleasure in annoyance. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., I. 194.

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® Foothills ridges (anywhere): This is for the adventurous, and you can combine hiking and kite flying. — IdahoStatesman.com News Updates
Foothills ridges (anywhere): This is for the adventurous, and you can combine hiking and kite flying. — IdahoStatesman.com News Updates
In his one minute pitch, Mr Southall, 24, who has driven across Africa and ridden an ostrich, introduces himself: "Hi, I'm Ben, otherwise known as the adventurous, crazy, energetic one." — The Guardian World News
For the adventurous, the hike up to the peak is quite a rewarding challenge. — Ivan About Town
You have to be adventurous -- the flavors are spicy and strong and often quite unusual, with flavorings like chili, agave, pepper, rose, orange blossom, and cardamom. — Greta Christina's Blog

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enterprising · brave · ambitious · heroic · hardy · intrepid · warlike · fearless · reckless · imaginative · chivalrous · ardent

Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (1)

Century Dictionary (1)

from Middle English aventurous, aventurus, aunterous, etc., from Old French aventeros, French aventureux = Provencal aventuros = Italian avventuroso: see adventure, n., and -ous.

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