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riant

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

adjective

  1. laughing; smiling; cheerful.

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

adjective

  1. rare laughing; smiling; cheerful

"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

Other Word Forms

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Translator, besides Riant, has also Traits, ensanguin'd, &c.

From An Essay on Criticism by Oldmixon, John

The MS. of Count Riant further mentions that before the occupation of Hebron by the Arabs, the Greeks had blocked up and concealed the entrance to the caves.

From The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela by Benjamin of Tudela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.