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Arrant vs Fierce - What's the difference?

arrant | fierce |

As adjectives the difference between arrant and fierce

is that arrant is utter; complete while fierce is extremely violent, severe, ferocious or savage.

arrant

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete)

Adjective

(er)
  • Utter; complete.
    • arrant nonsense!'' Thomas Bennet, A Brief History of the Joint Use of Recompos'd Set Forms of Prayer...to wich is annexed a Discourse of the Gost of Prayer], p. 187
  • * circa 1600 , (William Shakespeare), (Hamlet) , scene 1:
    • We are arrant knaves all; believe none of us.

    Usage notes

    Particularly used in the phrase “arrant' knaves”, quoting ''Hamlet,'' and “' arrant nonsense”.Safire, 2006, considers “arrant nonsense” to be “wedded words”, a form of a fixed phrase. Some dictionaries consider arrant simply an alternative form of errant, but in usage they have long since split. The word has long been considered archaic, may be confused with errant, and is used primarily in , on which basis some recommend against using it.

    References

    * “ arrant/errant”, Common Errors in English Usage, Paul Brians * On Language: Arrant Nonsense, (William Safire), January 22, 2006, (New York Times) * Merriam–Webster’s dictionary of English usage, 1995, “errant, arrant”, pp. 406–407

    fierce

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Extremely violent, severe, ferocious or savage.
    • A fierce storm battered the coast.
  • Resolute or strenuously active.
    • We made a fierce attempt to escape.
  • Threatening in appearance or demeanor.
    • The lion gave a fierce roar.
  • (slang, Ireland, rural) very, excellent.
    • It was fierce cold.
    Q: "How was the party last night?" A: "Fierce !"
  • (slang, US) Of exceptional quality, exhibiting boldness or chutzpah.
    • Tyra said to strike a pose and make it fierce .

    Derived terms

    * something fierce

    Anagrams

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