† remuantadj.
Obsolete.
Restless, changeable; fickle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > restlessness > [adjective]
unrolessc1225
rolessa1350
unrestfulc1384
unquieta1398
unrestless1513
remuant1625
unstill1743
wanrestful1786
untranquil1817
unquiescent1830
skittery1941
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective]
unfastc888
unstathelfasteOE
unsteadfasta1200
fleeting?c1225
changeablea1275
ficklea1275
unstablec1290
waveringc1315
flickerc1325
loose in the haftc1325
motleyc1380
unsadc1384
variablea1387
variantc1386
ticklec1400
inconstant1402
flitting1413
brittle1420
plianta1425
mutablec1425
shittle1440
shittle-witted1448
moonishc1450
unconstant1483
unfirm1483
varying?a1500
pliablea1513
fluctuant1575
changeling1577
shittle-headed1580
cheverel1583
off and on1583
chameleon-like1589
changeful1590
limber1602
unsteady1604
ticklish1606
skittish1609
startling1619
labile1623
uncertaina1625
cheverelized1625
remuant1625
fluctuate1631
fluctuary1632
various1636
contrarious1643
epileptical1646
fluxilea1654
shittle-braineda1655
multivolent1656
totter-headed1662
on and off1668
self-inconsistent1678
weathercocka1680
whifflinga1680
versatile1682
veering1684
fast and loose1697
inconsistent1709
insteadfast1728
unfixing1810
unsteadied1814
chameleonic1821
labefact1874
ballastless1884
weathercocky1886
whiffle-minded1902
1625 N. Brent tr. P. Sarpi Free Schoole of Warre 12 Those Busibodies, or as the French haue it better, those Remuant spirits, that..haue rather defaced than built.
1654 E. Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 92 I protest I am so pationatly troubled for the remuant humour of our frend that I know not what to say.
1659 O. Walker Some Instr. Art of Oratory 66 Fixing his fancy (remuent, and volatile) upon one object.
1687 P. Rycaut Contin. Knolles' Hist. Turks I. 974/1 His remuant Nature would never suffer the Peace long to continue between the Crown of Poland and the Grand Seignior.
1864 Littell's Living Age 12 Mar. 486/2 He is incalculable, too, as well as rémuant. He is forever breaking out in a fresh place.
1887 M. Arnold Let. 3 Jan. (1895) II. 362 Chamberlain himself is remuant and dangerous.
1906 in Brit. Docs Origins of War (1928) V. 8 Less supple, less self-interested, and less ‘remuant’ than his principal rival Izzet, Tahsin has never acquired the same ascendant over the Imperial mind.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.1625