treating someone with disrespect or rudeness, or speaking to someone in a way that hurts their feelings.
From Latin 'insultare' (in- + sultare 'to jump on'). The word originally meant literally jumping on someone, then evolved to mean attacking verbally. Entered English around the 1600s.
The root 'insult' originally meant 'jumping on someone'—like a physical attack! When people insult you with words, they're metaphorically 'jumping on' your dignity, showing how language mirrors physical violence.
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