truantn.adj.
/ˈtruːənt/, U.S. /ˈtruənt/ A. n.† 1. One who begs without justification; a sturdy beggar; a vagabond; an idle rogue or knave. (Often a mere term of abuse.) Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > roguery > rogue > [noun]
harlot?c1225
truantc1290
shreward1297
boyc1300
lidderon13..
cokinc1330
pautenerc1330
bribera1387
bricouna1400
losarda1400
rascal?a1400
custronc1400
knapea1450
sloven?a1475
limmerc1485
knavatec1506
smaik?1507
smy?1507
koken?a1513
swinger1513
Cock Lorel?1518
pedlar's French1530
varletc1540
losthope?c1550
makeshift1554
wild rogue1567
miligant1568
rogue1568
crack-halter1573
rascallion1582
schelm1584
scoundrel1589
scaba1592
bezonian1592
slave1592
rampallion1593
Scanderbeg1601
roly-poly1602
canter1608
cantler1611
gue1612
fraudsman1613
Cathayana1616
crack-hempa1616
foiterer1616
tilt1620
picaro1622
picaroon1629
sheepmanc1640
rapscallion1648
scaramouch1677
fripon1691
trickster1711
shake-bag1794
sinner1809
cad1838
badmash1843
scattermouch1892
jazzbo1914
the mind > possession > poverty > mendicancy > [noun] > beggar > sturdy beggar
truantc1290
staff-striker1376
valiant beggar?1530
sturdy beggara1538
hallan-shaker1568
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > roguery, knavery, or rascalry > [noun] > rogue, knave, or rascal
harlot?c1225
knavec1275
truantc1290
shreward1297
boinarda1300
boyc1300
lidderon13..
cokinc1330
pautenerc1330
bribera1387
bricouna1400
losarda1400
rascal?a1400
knapea1450
lotterela1450
limmerc1485
Tutivillus1498
knavatec1506
smy?1507
koken?a1513
swinger1513
Cock Lorel?1518
pedlar's French1530
cust1535
rabiator1535
varletc1540
Jack1548
kern1556
wild rogue1567
miligant1568
rogue1568
tutiviller1568
rascallion1582
schelm1584
scoundrel1589
rampallion1593
Scanderbeg1601
scroyle1602
canter1608
cantler1611
skelm1611
gue1612
Cathayana1616
foiterer1616
tilt1620
picaro1622
picaroon1629
sheepmanc1640
rapscallion1648
marrow1656
Algerine1671
scaramouch1677
fripon1691
shake-bag1794
badling1825
tiger1827
two-for-his-heels1837
ral1846
skeezicks1850
nut1882
gun1890
scattermouch1892
tug1896
natkhat1901
jazzbo1914
scutter1940
bar steward1945
hoor1965
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 60/240 Manie heolden him [St. Francis] a truant.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 174 Þe truont..þet sseweþ hare pouerte and hare ziknesse..uor to habbe þe elmesse.
c1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 100 Ribaldez and trowans..þat felawshypeþ þam by þe waiez to pilgrimez, þat þai may robbe þam of þair siluer.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxii. 490 Now shall I be a goode trewaunt, for I can well aske brede whan me nedeth.
a1530 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfeccyon (1531) iii. f. CCxxiiiiv Obey your..rulers, although they be trewantes: that is to saye..though they..be not so good and vertuous as they sholde be.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing iii. ii. 17 Hang him truant, theres no true drop of bloud in him to be truly toucht with loue. View more context for this quotation
1656 T. Blount Glossographia Truand (Fr.), a common beggar, a lazie rascal, a vagabond; a knave, a scowndrel.
1895 J. C. Beckwith tr. V. Hugo Nôtre Dame I. ii. vi. 147 Such law as you mete to the Truands (vagabonds and outlaws), the Truands mete to you.]
2.
a. A lazy, idle person; esp. a child who absents himself from school without leave; hence figurative, one who wanders from an appointed place or neglects his duty or business.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > absence > [noun] > absenting oneself > one who
truantc1449
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [noun] > lazy person
caynard1303
sluggard1398
luskc1420
slugc1425
truantc1449
dawa1500
hummel?a1513
rook?a1513
wallydraigle?a1513
sloven1523
dronea1529
draw latch1538
slim1548
slouk1570
do-nothing1579
bumbiea1585
do-little1586
lazybones1593
luskin1593
do-naught1594
loiter-sack1594
bed-presser1598
lazy lizard1600
lazy-back1611
fainéant1618
nothing-do1623
trivant1624
slothful1648
lolpoop1661
tool1699
haggis1822
lazy-boots1832
lazy-legs1838
poke1847
never-sweat1851
slob1876
bum1882
haggis bag1892
lollop1896
trouble-shirker1908
warb1933
fuck-off1948
poop-butt1967
society > education > learning > learner > [noun] > difficult or unwilling pupil or student > truant
truantc1449
truantness1483
mitcher1530
miker1890
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > [noun] > neglect of duty > one who
truant1598
the world > space > place > absence > [noun] > absenting oneself > without leave > one who absents himself improperly
mitcher1530
truant1697
meecher1825
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 219 Truauntis in the scole of God.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. lxiv I am not so loiteryng a truand as to forgette so good a lesson.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. i. 94 I haue a truant beene to Chiualrie. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) ii. iv. 7 I haue beene a Truant in the Law, And neuer yet could frame my will to it. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 127 When the Swarms..loath their empty Hives, and idly stray,..take A timely Care to bring the Truants back. View more context for this quotation
1770 O. Goldsmith Deserted Village 198 The village master..A man severe he was,..I knew him well, and every truant knew.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xxix. 398 One of our dogs, a truant from Morton's team.
b. to play truant; also formerly †to play the truant, -s (obsolete). Const. from, to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > absence > be absent [verb (intransitive)] > absent oneself
to turn awaya1400
absenta1425
to play truant1560
truant1580
to take (a) French leave1751
to trig it1796
to play hookey1848
submarine1915
to take off1930
bunk1949
society > education > learning > learner > [verb (intransitive)] > to play truant
to play truant1560
mitch1580
mooch1622
to trig it1796
plunk1808
minch1836
wag1847
to play hookey1848
to hop the wag1861
to play (the) wag1861
to hook Jack1877
to bag school1934
to go on the hop1959
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > be slothful or lazy [verb (intransitive)] > idle or loaf
luskc1330
lubber1530
to play the truant, -s1560
lazea1592
lazy1612
meecha1625
lounge1671
saunter1672
sloungea1682
slive1707
soss1711
lolpoop1722
muzz1758
shack1787
hulkc1793
creolize1802
maroon1808
shackle1809
sidle1828
slinge1834
sossle1837
loaf1838
mike1838
to sit around1844
hawm1847
wanton1847
sozzle1848
mooch1851
slosh1854
bum1857
flane1876
slummock1877
dead-beat1881
to lop about1881
scow1901
scowbank1901
stall1916
doss1937
plotz1941
lig1960
loon1969
the world > space > place > absence > be absent [verb (intransitive)] > be absent without leave
mitch1580
truant1580
mooch1622
meech1624
to play truant1887
1560 Nice Wanton A ij Be ye not ashamed the treauandes to play?
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) v. i. 25 Since I pluckt Geese, plaide Trewant, and whipt Top, I knew not what 'twas to be beaten, till lately. View more context for this quotation
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 93 That so they may shun this sharpe Schoolemaster by playing the trewants.
1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. viii. 129 I was scarcely breeched when I used to play the truant.
1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Æneid v, in tr. Virgil in Eng. Verse 260 Rest those brows, let wearied eyes play truant to toil.
B. adj.† 2. Trivial, trite; idle, vain. Obsolete. rare.
1.
a. That is a truant, or plays truant; idle, lazy, loitering, esp. of a child, staying from school without leave; hence, wandering, straying.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > absence > [adjective]
absenta1325
missinga1400
truanta1550
absenteda1586
AWOL1895
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [adjective]
sweerc725
foridledc1230
idlea1300
faintc1325
recrayed1340
slewful1340
nicea1398
sleuthya1400
delicate?c1400
sleuthfulc1400
slothfulc1400
sloth1412
lurdanc1480
luskinga1500
luskish15..
droning1509
bumbard?a1513
slottery1513
desidiousa1540
lazy1549
slovening1549
truanta1550
sleuth1567
litherly1573
truantly1579
dronish1580
lubberly1580
truant-like1583
shiftless1584
sluggard1594
fat1598
lusky1604
sweatless1606
clumse1611
easeful1611
loselly1611
do-littlea1613
sluggardisha1627
pigritious1638
drony1653
murcid1656
thokisha1682
shammockinga1704
indolent1710
huddroun1721
nothing-doing1724
desidiose1727
lusk1775
slack-twisted1794
sweert1817
bone-lazya1825
lurgy1828
straight-backed1830
do-nothing1832
slobbish1833
bone idle1836
slouch1837
lotophagous1841
shammocky1841
bein1847
thoky1847
lotus-eating1852
fainéant1855
sluggardly1865
lazy-boned1875
do-naught1879
easy-going1879
lazyish1892
slobbed1962
society > education > learning > learner > [adjective] > playing truant
truanta1550
truantly1579
mitching1877
the world > space > direction > [adjective] > straight or constant > deviating from
truant1791
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > [adjective] > moving without fixed course
vaganta1382
scatteringc1450
stragglinga1560
wandering1590
undirecteda1599
wayless1605
planetary1607
rambling?1609
exorbitant1613
exorbitating1632
random1655
unconducteda1677
devious1735
truant1791
wild1810
erratic1841
directionless1860
scrolloping1923
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > [adjective] > wandering
by-wandering1597
truant1793
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > [adjective] > neglecting duty
truanting1635
truant1824
the world > space > place > absence > [adjective] > absent, lost, or lacking
absenta1398
wanting?a1425
lacking1480
alacka1529
void1554
defaulting1584
lacked1590
lack1591
destituent1660
unaccounted1799
truant1869
a1550 Hye Way to Spyttel Ho. 43 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. IV. 24 These trewant beggers begging fro place to place.
1575 J. Awdely Fraternitye of Vacabondes (new ed.) sig. B4 A Trewand knaue that faineth himselfe sicke when he should woorke.
1615 A. Stafford Heavenly Dogge 59 To behold an austere..Philosopher..quake at the name of death, even as a treuant boy does at the name of his Tutor.
1785 W. Cowper Task i. 114 E'er since, a truant boy, I passed my bounds.
1791 E. Darwin Bot. Garden: Pt. I i. 54 Down the steep slopes He led..The willing pathway, and the truant rill.
1793 W. Wordsworth Descr. Sketches 49 Through her truant pathway's native charms.
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller I. ii. vii. 259 This freak of fancy made me more truant from my studies than ever.
1869 H. F. Tozer Res. Highlands of Turkey I. 318 We recovered the truant saddle.
b. Characterized or marked by truancy or idleness; befitting a truant or idler.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [adjective] > characterized by sloth or laziness
accidiousa1400
slothfulc1400
truant1603
acedious1609
lazy1609
picktootha1726
siestose1845
soft1849
lotophagous1855
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > [adjective] > neglecting duty > characterized by
truantly1579
truant1603
gold-bricking1919
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. ii. 168 But what make you from Wittenberg... Hor. A trowant disposition, my good Lord.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης xvi. 152 Wee are not..to distrust God in the removal of that Truant help to our Devotion, which by him never was appointed.
1803 W. Scott Let. 25 May (1932) I. 185 My truant days spent in London having thrown me a little behind.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > of little importance or trivial
eathlyc890
lighteOE
littleOE
small?c1225
singlec1449
easy1474
triflous1509
naughty1526
slender1530
slight1548
shrimpish1549
slipper1567
truanta1572
toyous1581
trivious1583
mean1585
silly1587
nicea1594
puny?1594
puisne1598
pusill1599
whindling1601
sapless1602
non-significant1603
poor1603
unsignificant1603
flea-bite1605
perishing1605
lank1607
weightless1610
fonda1616
penny farthing1615
triviala1616
unweighty1621
transitory1637
twattling1651
inconsiderate1655
unserious1655
nugal1656
small drink1656
slighty1662
minute1668
paddling1679
snitling1682
retail1697
Lilliputian1726
vain1731
rattletrap1760
peppercornish1762
peppercorn1791
underling1804
venial1806
lightweight1809
floccinaucical1826
small-bore1833
minified1837
trantlum1838
piffling1848
tea-tabular1855
potty1860
whipping-snapping1861
tea-gardeny1862
quiddling1863
twaddling1863
fidgeting1865
penny ante1865
feather-weighted1870
jerkwater1877
midget1879
mimsy1880
shirttail1881
two-by-four1885
footle1894
skittery1905
footery1929
Mickey Mouse1931
chickenshit1934
minoritized1945
marginal1952
marginalized1961
tea-party1961
little league1962
marginalizing1977
minnowy1991
a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1848) II. 141 We should nott wonder albeit that the auld trowane verse be trew, Patrem sequitur sua proles.
1683 J. Oldham Poems & Transl. 4 So fam'd for many a tuant jest On wiving.
Compounds
C1.
truant-like adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [adjective]
sweerc725
foridledc1230
idlea1300
faintc1325
recrayed1340
slewful1340
nicea1398
sleuthya1400
delicate?c1400
sleuthfulc1400
slothfulc1400
sloth1412
lurdanc1480
luskinga1500
luskish15..
droning1509
bumbard?a1513
slottery1513
desidiousa1540
lazy1549
slovening1549
truanta1550
sleuth1567
litherly1573
truantly1579
dronish1580
lubberly1580
truant-like1583
shiftless1584
sluggard1594
fat1598
lusky1604
sweatless1606
clumse1611
easeful1611
loselly1611
do-littlea1613
sluggardisha1627
pigritious1638
drony1653
murcid1656
thokisha1682
shammockinga1704
indolent1710
huddroun1721
nothing-doing1724
desidiose1727
lusk1775
slack-twisted1794
sweert1817
bone-lazya1825
lurgy1828
straight-backed1830
do-nothing1832
slobbish1833
bone idle1836
slouch1837
lotophagous1841
shammocky1841
bein1847
thoky1847
lotus-eating1852
fainéant1855
sluggardly1865
lazy-boned1875
do-naught1879
easy-going1879
lazyish1892
slobbed1962
1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. Mi A trewantlike barrister.
1629 J. Ford Lovers Melancholy i. 1 If my experience hath not Trewant like, Mis-pent the time..For bettering my mind.
C2.
truant-inspector n. a school attendance officer.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > educational administration > school administration > [noun] > record of attendance > attendance officer
attendance-officer1884
truant-inspector1891
truant officer1911
1891 E. Kinglake Austral. at Home 22 Attendance officers, called truant inspectors, go and examine the books of the state schools periodically, and then visit the parents of those children who have not fulfilled the required conditions.
truant officer n. U.S. = truant-inspector n.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > educational administration > school administration > [noun] > record of attendance > attendance officer
attendance-officer1884
truant-inspector1891
truant officer1911
1911 G. F. Ward in S. M. Kingsbury Labor Laws 181 The truant officer finds that no certificate has been issued from the central office.
1972 T. Kochman Rappin' & Stylin' Out 249 What do you do when you ditch school and..a truant officer walks up.
truant-school n. an industrial school to which truant or other children may be sent by order of a magistrate.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > place of education > school > [noun] > reform school
house of reformation1581
reformatory1758
reform school1839
truant-school1872
training school1905
approved school1932
juvie1967
1872 C. L. Brace Dangerous Classes N.Y. 348 The Massachusetts system of ‘Truant-schools’—that is, Schools to which truant officers could send children habitually truant—does not seem so applicable to New York.
1882 Standard 31 Aug. 2/4 Truant Schools have..been doing good work in checking truancy.
Derivatives
ˈtruantness n. (also truanness) truancy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [noun]
sleuthc888
sweernessc888
slacknessc897
unlustOE
aswolkenessc1000
slothc1175
sweeringa1300
sloth-head1303
unlusthead1340
nicetya1387
sluggardy1390
sluggardness1398
nicehead1440
musardryc1450
slugnessc1450
lashness1477
sweerdomc1480
truantness1483
passibilityc1485
sleuthfulness1488
sluggardry1513
slothfulness1526
sluggardise1532
luskishness1538
desidiousnessa1540
ocivity1550
restiness?c1550
niceness1557
laziness1580
easinessa1586
poltroonery1590
facility1615
pigritude1623
pigrity1623
otiosity1632
easefulnessa1639
dronishness1674
reasiness1679
indolence1710
accidity1730
indolency1741
lurgy1769
donothingness1814
far niente1819
oisivity1830
donothingism1839
dronage1846
lotus-eating1852
faineance1853
faineancy1854
bummerism1858
lazyhood1866
bone-laziness1875
sleevelessness1882
bummery1887
sluggardliness1977
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > [noun] > neglect of duty
truantness1483
truanting1532
truancy1784
truantry1811
gold-bricking1918
society > education > learning > learner > [noun] > difficult or unwilling pupil or student > truant
truantc1449
truantness1483
mitcher1530
miker1890
society > education > learning > learner > [noun] > difficult or unwilling pupil or student > truant > action of truanting
truantry1481
truantness1483
truanting1532
truantshipa1568
truantism1812
mitching1874
truancy1905
1483 Cath. Angl. 394/2 Trowannes, trutannitas.
1658 J. Jones tr. Ovid Invective against Ibis 52 Boys will excuse the fault of Treuantness by the sin of lying.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
truantv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > roguery > [verb (intransitive)]
truantc1400
rogue1570
scaramouch1783
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > roguery, knavery, or rascalry > [verb (intransitive)]
truantc1400
to play the‥varlet1579
to play the jack1606
rogue1702
scaramouch1783
blackguard1786
c1400 Rom. Rose 6721 Somme maner crafte..Thurgh which without truaundyng He may..haue his lyuyng.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) iii. xxiii. 148 Wel thei kunne glooven maungepayn whan thei wolen trewande ther~with.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 503/2 Trovwonton (S. trownton, P. trowantyn), trutannizo, Cath.
2. intransitive. To idle, play truant (esp. from school); to wander, stray. Also with it.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > absence > be absent [verb (intransitive)] > absent oneself
to turn awaya1400
absenta1425
to play truant1560
truant1580
to take (a) French leave1751
to trig it1796
to play hookey1848
submarine1915
to take off1930
bunk1949
the world > space > place > absence > be absent [verb (intransitive)] > be absent without leave
mitch1580
truant1580
mooch1622
meech1624
to play truant1887
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > be slothful or lazy [verb (intransitive)]
sleuthc1300
sloth1390
slotter1553
sloven1560
truant1580
drone1632
slubberc1820
sluggardize1837
to lie down1918
to dick off1948
schlump1953
1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 29 What made the Gods so often to trewant from Heauen?
1637 T. Heywood Dial. in Wks. (1874) VI. 285 I must..truly study man, (A booke in which I yet have truanted).
1642 T. Fuller Holy State i. ix. 24 He will not truant it now in the afternoon.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa IV. li. 305 Her good angel is gone a journey: Is truanting at least.
1879 M. Pattison Milton xii. 143 He returned with concentrated ardour to woo the muse, from whom he had so long truanted.
a. transitive. To waste or idle away (time); to spend in truanting. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > spend (time) in sloth or laziness [verb (transitive)]
sloth1523
dronea1538
slug1548
sleuth1584
truant1597
laze1661
saunter1672
lounge1757
loll1784
slim1812
lazy1885
1597 1st Pt. Returne fr. Parnassus iii. i. 1115 In trewantinge there time, wastinge whole years.
1638 J. Ford Fancies iii. 45 I dare not be the Author Of trewanting the time.
1708 J. Ozell tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Lutrin iii. 120 A heedless Troop of wanton Boys..In idle Pastime truanting the Day.
b. To play truant from. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > learner > [verb (transitive)] > play truant from school
plunk1870
truant1899
scheme1905
1899 S. R. Crockett Kit Kennedy xii. 95 Kit Kennedy,..Ye troaned the schule yesterday.
Derivatives
ˈtruanting adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [adjective] > idling or loafing
loiteringa1533
truanting1635
sauntering1672
dawdling1773
shackling1788
lounging1789
louting1836
lubbering1837
loafing1857
mitching1857
scowbanking1868
shacking1881
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > [adjective] > neglecting duty
truanting1635
truant1824
1635 E. Rainbow Labour 25 't has given the truanting world a desired play-day.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.adj.c1290
v.c1400