Rampant

Rampant is another of those words that is used more in a metaphorical sense than it is in its actual or literal meaning. Literally, rampant, means to rear up on hind legs. Thus a rampant bear, is one that is standing up like this:

Although this photograph (kindly borrowed from flickr user Sponng's photostream) does not have the more fierce connotations that rampant gives in heraldry:


Now this imaginary bear is fiercly, if not awkwardly, going after someone.

Since human beings, when standing, are necessarily always upright, the use of the word rampant is generally metaphorical. When people are rampant they are either fierce or out-of-control. Rampant hordes, for example, indicates a crazed mass of people who no doubt will act unpredictably and tear your castle apart if given half the chance. The phrase to run rampant shows this too (and is particuarly amusing since we humans always run rampant.)

Rampant derives from the French meaning to rear up or, strangely enough, to crawl.

Now a note of closure: this is the last Word of the day for 2006 as it is our last day of operation in the SLCC Student Writing Center. We wish you a happy holiday season and the gift of peace.