riant

[rahy-uhnt, ree-, ryahn]

adjective

1. laughing; smiling; cheerful.

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

riant

/ ˈraɪənt /

adjective

1. rare,  laughing; smiling; cheerful

Other Word Forms

• riantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of riant¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from French, “smiling, laughing,” adjective use of present participle of rire “to laugh,” from Latin rīdēre; rident ( def. ), -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of riant¹

C16: from French, from rire to laugh, from Latin rīdēre

Example Sentences

I have just mentioned Niels Andersen, and this good figure, at once so droll and so lovable, emerges all riant in my memory.

From Project Gutenberg

Vā′riant, a different form of the same original word: a different reading, e.g. in a manuscript.—adj. diverse, variable, inconstant.—At variance, in disagreement.

From Project Gutenberg

She sauntered on in an arch and riant humor.

From Project Gutenberg

Everything is riant, stirring, singing, in the world that I behold from my balcony.

From Project Gutenberg

These poems almost equal Holmes's for rich and riant humor.

From Project Gutenberg