arrant
|ar-rant|
/ˈærənt/
complete, utter (intensifier)
Etymology
'arrant' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'errant', where the stem related to 'err-' meant 'to wander' (from Latin 'errare').
'arrant' changed from Old French 'errant' and entered Middle English (also seen as 'arrant'/'arant'), eventually becoming the modern English adjective 'arrant'.
Initially, it meant 'wandering' or 'roving', but over time it evolved into its current predominant meaning of 'complete' or 'utter' (used as an intensifier).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
complete, utter; used as an intensive (often of something negative) — e.g., 'arrant nonsense' meaning 'complete nonsense'.
That's arrant nonsense.
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Adjective 2
archaic/older sense: wandering or traveling (related to 'errant').
Medieval stories speak of arrant knights wandering the land.
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Last updated: 2025/10/18 20:30