Saturday, May 12, 2012

rampart/rampant: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, May 12, 2012.

rampart/rampant
“Rampant” is an adjective which originally meant a posture seen in animals on coats of arms: rearing up on their hind legs, but in modern times it mainly means “wild” or “very widespread.” Some people confuse this word with “rampart,” a noun denoting a barricade or fortification.

Crime, disease, and greed may all be rampant, but not “rampart.”


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