arrant

[ ar-uhnt ]

/ ˈær ənt /

adjective

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

wandering; errant.

Nearby words

arraignment, arran, arrange, arrangement, arrangements, arrant, arras, arrau, array, arrayal, arrearage

Origin of arrant

1350–1400; Middle English, variant of errant

SYNONYMS FOR arrant

1 thoroughgoing, utter, confirmed, flagrant.

Related forms

ar·rant·ly, adverb

Can be confused

arrant errant

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

Examples from the Web for arrantly

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
You make me feel that I have been driving you—arrantly egotistic.
The Dull Miss Archinard|Anne Douglas Sedgwick

British Dictionary definitions for arrantly

arrant

/ (ˈærənt) /

adjective

utter; out-and-outan arrant fool

Derived Forms

arrantly, 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