gaunt
[ gawnt ]
/ gɔnt /
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adjective, gaunt·er, gaunt·est.
extremely thin and bony; haggard and drawn, as from great hunger, weariness, or torture; emaciated.
bleak, desolate, or grim, as places or things: a gaunt, windswept landscape.
SYNONYMS FOR gaunt
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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Origin of gaunt
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, probably from Old French gaunet, jaunet “yellowish,” derivative of gaune, jaune “yellow,” from Latin galbinus “greenish-yellow”
synonym study for gaunt
1. See thin.
historical usage of gaunt
Gaunt was originally used to mean “slim, slender.” Until the early 18th century, this now obsolete sense existed alongside the current sense “extremely thin and bony.”
The etymology of gaunt is uncertain. It is a Middle English word (also spelled gant ) that may come from Old French gant, a possible variant of gaunet, jaunet “yellowish.” Other etymologists suggest a Scandinavian origin, such as Norwegian gand “a thin, pointed stick; a tall, thin man.”
John of Gaunt, a son of King Edward III and father of King Henry IV, was so named because he was born in the Flemish city of Ghent ( Gand in French, Gent in Flemish), corrupted to Gaunt in English.
The etymology of gaunt is uncertain. It is a Middle English word (also spelled gant ) that may come from Old French gant, a possible variant of gaunet, jaunet “yellowish.” Other etymologists suggest a Scandinavian origin, such as Norwegian gand “a thin, pointed stick; a tall, thin man.”
John of Gaunt, a son of King Edward III and father of King Henry IV, was so named because he was born in the Flemish city of Ghent ( Gand in French, Gent in Flemish), corrupted to Gaunt in English.
OTHER WORDS FROM gaunt
gauntly, adverbgauntness, nounWords nearby gaunt
Definition for gaunt (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for gaunt
British Dictionary definitions for gaunt
gaunt
/ (ɡɔːnt) /
adjective
bony and emaciated in appearance
(of places) bleak or desolate
Derived forms of gaunt
gauntly, adverbgauntness, nounWord Origin for gaunt
C15: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect gand tall lean person
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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