riant

American  

[rahy-uhnt, ree-, ryahn] / ˈraɪ ənt, ˈri-, rjɑ̃ /

adjective

1. laughing; smiling; cheerful.

   She exuded good humor, with her riant brown eyes, curly, flyaway hair, and madcap grin.

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riant British  

/ ˈraɪənt /

adjective

1. rare laughing; smiling; cheerful

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Other Word Forms

• riantly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of riant

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

riant

The site, a broad, green and riant valley, with a high background, is softer and gayer than that of Funchal.

From To the Gold Coast for Gold A Personal Narrative in Two Volumes.—Volume I by Sir Richard Francis Burton

This is music of blithe and captivating allurement, of grave or riant tenderness, of compelling fascination; and in it, the word and the tone are ideally mated.

From Edward MacDowell by Lawrence Gilman

She talked of her griefs in a plucky, riant way, making eternal fun of herself as a giddy fool.

From The Cup of Fury A Novel of Cities and Shipyards by Henry Raleigh

With its light and elegant fabric, its pretty fountain, its archway of the Renaissance, and fragments of sculpture, you can hardly see, on a fine day, a place more riant and pleasing.

From The Paris Sketch Book by William Makepeace Thackeray

Here in the riant and overflowing opulence of July, time without love's companionship was time wasted.

From Rose of Dutcher's Coolly by Hamlin Garland

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