Dare

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /deÉ™(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -eÉ™(r)

From Old English durran, from Proto-Germanic *durzaną, from Proto-Indo-European. Cognate with Ancient Greek θαρσεῖν, Lithuanian drįsti.

Full definition of dare

Verb

1. (intransitive) To have enough courage (to do something).I wouldn't dare argue with my boss.
• ShakespeareThe fellow dares not deceive me.
• MacaulayWhy then did not the ministers use their new law? Because they durst not, because they could not.
2. (transitive) To defy or challenge (someone to do something)I dare you to kiss that girl.
3. (transitive) To have enough courage to meet or do something, go somewhere, etc.; to face up toWill you dare death to reach your goal?
• The CenturyTo wrest it from barbarism, to dare its solitudes.
4. (transitive) To terrify; to daunt.
• Beaumont and FletcherFor I have done those follies, those mad mischiefs,
  Would dare a woman.
5. (transitive) To catch (larks) by producing terror through the use of mirrors, scarlet cloth, a hawk, etc., so that they lie still till a net is thrown over them.

Usage notes

Dare is a semimodal verb. The speaker can choose whether to use the auxiliary "to" when forming negative and interrogative sentences. For example, "I don't dare (to) go" and "I dare not go" are both correct. Similarly "Dare you go?" and "Do you dare (to) go?" are both correct.

In negative and interrogative sentences where "do" is not used, the third-person singular form of the verb is usually "dare" and not "dares": "Dare he go? He dare not go."

Colloquially, "dare not" can be contracted to "daren't".

The expression dare say, used almost exclusively in the first-person singular and in the present tense, means "think probable". It is also spelt daresay.

Historically, the simple past of dare was durst. In the 1830s, it was overtaken by dared, which has been markedly more common ever since.

Derived terms

Noun

1. A challenge to prove courage.
2. The quality of daring; venturesomeness; boldness.
• ShakespeareIt lends a lustre ...
  A large dare to our great enterprise.
3. defiance; challenge
• ChapmanChildish, unworthy dares
  Are not enought to part our powers.
• ShakespeareSextus Pompeius
  Hath given the dare to Caesar.

Old English darian.

Verb

1. (obsolete) To stare stupidly or vacantly; to gaze as though amazed or terrified. 13th-16th c.
2. (obsolete) To lie or crouch down in fear. 13th-16th c.
• 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XX:‘Sir, here bene knyghtes com of kyngis blod that woll nat longe droupe and dare within thys wallys.’

Noun

1. A small fish, the dace.
• 1766, Richard Brookes, The art of angling, rock and sea-fishingThe Dare is not unlike a Chub, but proportionably less; his Body is more white and flatter, and his Tail more forked.

Anagrams

• dear, 'eard, rade, Read, read