riant

[ rahy-uhnt, ree-; French ryahn ]

adjective
  1. laughing; smiling; cheerful: She exuded good humor, with her riant brown eyes, curly, flyaway hair, and madcap grin.

Origin of riant

1
First recorded in 1560–70; from French, “smiling, laughing,” adjective use of present participle of rire “to laugh,” from Latin rīdēre; see rident, -ant

Other words from riant

  • ri·ant·ly, adverb

Words Nearby riant

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How to use riant in a sentence

  • Un Vieillard.Jeune fille au riant visage,Que cherches-tu sous cet ombrage?

  • Her bare arms and neck were as soft and firm as a baby's; her riant, un-English face seemed all aglow of color and mellow eyes.

    Theo | Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett
  • She talked of her griefs in a plucky, riant way, making eternal fun of herself as a giddy fool.

    The Cup of Fury | Rupert Hughes
  • Her hair was the real classic gold, and her grey eyes were riant with health and content.

    Hoosier Mosaics | Maurice Thompson
  • Ces dames le regardant lui dirent en riant, 'Vous plaisantez, Monsieur; ce n'est pas vous qui etes Napoleon.'

British Dictionary definitions for riant

riant

/ (ˈraɪənt) /


adjective
  1. rare laughing; smiling; cheerful

Origin of riant

1
C16: from French, from rire to laugh, from Latin rīdēre

Derived forms of riant

  • riantly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012