cover of episode Arrant

Arrant

2021/10/14
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Word of the Day

Shownotes Transcript

Arrant is an adjective that means complete or utter.

Coming from Middle English, our word of the day was often used to describe someone on a journey. It would sometimes refer to a criminal, as in an arrant thief. Its meaning has shifted over time and more recently, it has become a synonym of word like ‘complete’ or ‘absolute.’

My wife feared that without anything to do all day, I’d become an arrant bum. She had good reason to fear. I haven’t left the bed in weeks.