arrant

[ar-uhnt]

adjective

downright; thorough; unmitigated; notorious: an arrant fool.

wandering; errant.

Origin of arrant

1350–1400; Middle English, variant of errant

Related formsar·rant·ly, adverb

Can be confusedarrant errant

Synonyms for arrant

1. thoroughgoing, utter, confirmed, flagrant.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for arrantly

Historical Examples of arrantly

You make me feel that I have been driving you—arrantly egotistic.
The Dull Miss Archinard
Anne Douglas Sedgwick
Twice her lips moved to the verge of speech; yet, caught so arrantly in the act, she was unable to phrase any passing thought.
The Little Lady of the Big House
Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for arrantly

arrant

adjective

utter; out-and-outan arrant fool

Derived Formsarrantly, adverb

Word Origin for arrant

C14: a variant of errant (wandering, vagabond); sense developed from its frequent use in phrases like arrant thief (hence: notorious)

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 arrantly

arrant

adj.

late 14c., variant of errant (q.v.); at first merely derogatory, "wandering, vagrant;" then (1540s) acquiring a meaning "thoroughgoing, downright, notorious."