Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IM-PER'TI-NENCE, or IM-PER'TI-NEN-CY, n. [Fr. impertinence, from L. impertinens; in and pertinens, pertineo, to pertain; per and teneo, to hold.]

1. That which is not pertinent; that which does not belong to the subject in hand; that which is of no weight. Bacon.
2. The state of not being pertinent.
3. Folly; rambling thought. [Little used.] Shak.
4. Rudeness; improper intrusion; interference by word or conduct which is not consistent with the age or station of the person. [This is the most usual sense.] We should avoid the vexation and impertinence of pedants. Swift.
5. A trifle; a thing of little or no value. There are many subtile impertinences learnt in schools. Watts.