riant

American  

[rahy-uhnt, ree-, ryahn] / ˈraɪ ənt, ˈri-, rjɑ̃ /

adjective

1. laughing; smiling; cheerful.

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

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riant British  

/ ˈraɪənt /

adjective

1. rare laughing; smiling; cheerful

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Other Word Forms

• riantly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of riant

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

riant

The scene was rich and riant, the evening lovely, and the wine good.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 58, Number 360, October 1845 by Various

Her bare arms and neck were as soft and firm as a baby's; her riant, un-English face seemed all aglow of color and mellow eyes.

From Theo A Sprightly Love Story by Frances Hodgson Burnett

She was so riant and chic and trim; He was so shaggy, unkempt and grim.

From Ballads of a Bohemian by Robert W. (Robert William) Service

The site, a broad, green and riant valley, with a high background, is softer and gayer than that of Funchal.

From To the Gold Coast for Gold A Personal Narrative in Two Volumes.—Volume I by Sir Richard Francis Burton

This is music of blithe and captivating allurement, of grave or riant tenderness, of compelling fascination; and in it, the word and the tone are ideally mated.

From Edward MacDowell by Lawrence Gilman

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