| 词源 |
arrant thief; knight errant. Arrant was originally just a vari- ation of errant, nomadic or vagabond, the word best known in knight errant, a knight who roamed the country performing good deeds. But from its persistent use in expressions such as an arrant thief, a thief who roamed the countryside holding up victims, arrant came to mean thorough, downright, or out- and-out. Expressions such as an arrant thief, an arrant coward, etc., have been common since the late 14th century. |