argent

[ahr-juh nt]

See more synonyms for argent on Thesaurus.com

noun

Heraldry. the tincture or metal silver.
Archaic.
1. silver.
2. something silvery or white.
Obsolete. money.

adjective

like silver; silvery white.
Heraldry. of the tincture or metal silver: a lion argent.

Origin of argent

1400–50; late Middle English argentum < Latin: silver, money

argent-

variant of argento-, especially before a vowel.

Also argenti-.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for argent

white, silver, silvery

Examples from the Web for argent

Contemporary Examples of argent

There are cotises either side of the chevron which are white (Argent).
William and Kate's New Conjugal Coat of Arms
Tom Sykes
September 27, 2013

Historical Examples of argent

We had been out-fitted in London by the world-renowned firm of Argent and Joy.
Brighter Britain! (Volume 1 of 2)
William Delisle Hay
I inquired, remembering the sable device on argent of which the priest had told me.
The Strolling Saint
Raphael Sabatini
That is the coat of the Blandamers—barry nebuly of six, argent and vert.
The Nebuly Coat
John Meade Falkner
On a scutcheon of pretence in the centre, Argent, a lion ramp.
Notes and Queries, Number 188, June 4, 1853
Various
Crest; a dragon's sinister wing, argent, charged with a cross, gules.
Memorials of Old London
Various

British Dictionary definitions for argent

argent

noun

1. an archaic or poetic word for silver
2. (as adjective; often postpositive, esp in heraldry)a bend argent

Word Origin for argent

C15: from Old French, from Latin

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

Word Origin and History for argent

c.1300, "quicksilver, the metal mercury," from Old French argent (11c.), from Latin argentum "silver, silver work, white money," from PIE *arg-ent- (cf. Avestan erezata-, Old Persian ardata-, Armenian arcat, Old Irish argat, Breton arc'hant "silver"), from root *arg- "to shine; white," thus "the shining or white metal, silver" (cf. Greek argos "white," arguron "silver;" Sanskrit arjuna- "white, shining," rajata- "silver," Hittite harki- "white"). Meaning "silver, silver coin" is early 15c. in English; the adjective sense "silver-colored," late 15c.