arrant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers
    perfect; double-dyed; complete; gross; unadulterated; sodding; stark; consummate; pure; utter; thoroughgoing; everlasting; staring.
    • an arrant fool
    • a complete coward
    • a consummate fool
    • a double-dyed villain
    • gross negligence
    • a perfect idiot
    • pure folly
    • what a sodding mess
    • stark staring mad
    • a thoroughgoing villain
    • utter nonsense
    • the unadulterated truth

WordNet

Ar"rant adjective
Etymology
OE. erraunt, errant, errand, equiv. to E. errant wandering, which was first applied to vagabonds, as an errant rogue, an errant thief, and hence passed gradually into its present and worse sense. See Errant.
Definitions
  1. Notoriously or preëminently bad; thorough or downright, in a bad sense; shameless; unmitigated; as, an arrant rogue or coward.
    I discover an arrant laziness in my soul. Fuller.
  2. Thorough or downright, in a good sense. Obs.
    An arrant honest woman. Burton.

Webster 1913