audacity

 
Pronunciation: /ɔːˈdasɪti/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1a willingness to take bold risks: he whistled at the sheer audacity of the plan
  • 2rude or disrespectful behaviour; impudence: she had the audacity to suggest I’d been carrying on with him

Origin:

late Middle English: from medieval Latin audacitas, from audax, audac- 'bold' (see audacious)