tĕmĕrĭtas, ātis, f [temere].
I Hap. chance , accident (so rare but class., cf.: fortuna. casus): in quibus nulla temeritas, sed ordo apparet, Cic. N. D. 2, 32, 82 quid enim sors est? Idem propemodum, quod micare, quod talos jacere, quod tesseras quibus in rebus temeritas et casus, non ratio nec consilium valet, id. Div 2, 41, 85 fortunam in temeritatem declinando corrumpebant, Sall. Fragm. ap. Non. 385, 5, cf. (Pacuvius) ait, verius esse temeritate quam fortuna res regi, Auct. Her. 2, 23, 36: illa superiora caduca et incerta posita non tam in consiliis nostris quam in fortunae temeritate, Cic. Lael. 6, 20.—
II Rashness , heedlessness , thoughtlessness , hastiness , want of consideration , indiscretion , foolhardiness , temerity; a rash , inconsiderate , or unfounded opinion (the predom. signif. of the word, syn.: inconsiderantia, audacia): omnis actio vacare debet temeritate et neglegentia, Cic. Off. 1, 29, 101. multi faciunt multa temeritate quādam, sine judicio vel modo, id. ib. 1, 15, 49: numquam temeritas cum sapientiā miscetur. id. Marcell. 2, 7; duci ad judicandum impetu et temeritate, id. Planc. 4, 9: temeritatem cupiditatemque militum reprehendit, Caes. B. G. 7, 52: inpellit alios avaritia, alios iracundia et temeritas, id. ib. 7, 42; Sall. J. 7, 5; temeritas est florentis aetatis, prudentia senescentis, Cic. Sen. 6, 20; so opp. prudentia, Hirt. B. G. 8, 8; (with ignorantia) Cic. Ac. 1, 11, 42; (with inscitia) Liv. 6, 30, 6; 42, 49, 5; (with inscientia) id. 22, 25, 12.—In plur., rash , inconsiderate acts , Cic. Sest. 28, 61; cf. Quint. 9, 4, 97