arrears

Etymology

It is from English the plural of arrear, a noun use of the Middle English adverb arere (“in or to the rear; in the past; at a disadvantage”),^[2][3][4][5] recorded from about 1300,^[2][6] which is Anglo-Norman arere, from Old French ariere (“behind, backward”),^[2][6][3] modern arrière,^[2][4] from Vulgar Latin *ad retrō (“backward”),^[2][7][6] formed from ad (“to”) and retrō (“behind, back”).^[2][7][6][8] The OED calls the Latin phrase Merovingian, and Hoad and the Oxford Dictionary of English give it as Medieval Latin adretrō.^[3][4][9] The Anglo-Norman adverb is recorded from 1113–19, already in phrases for being in arrears,^[10] and Hoad notes an Anglo-Norman noun areres in the 14th century.^[4] At first the English noun appeared only in the phrase “in arrear”, perhaps a compound adverb like en arrière, which led the way to true noun uses, in which the plural is now usual.^[3][11] According to Barnhart, the second r was added to restore what was thought to be the original Latin form.^[6] The word took the place of the older arrearage, from Old French arierage.^[4][2][12]

Earliest recorded meaning

In time past, in the phrase “in arrear”: 1340, in the Ayenbite of Inwyt.^[3][6]

Semantic evolution

The adverb had meant "behind, to the rear" and "behindhand, overdue" (1477–1768) before the noun took over the financial sense.^[3] Barnhart dates the meaning "balance due" to 1432,^[6] Etymonline to the early 15th century,^[2] but Middle English usually said arrearage for an unpaid debt, as Chaucer did.^{[2][12][13][14]} The phrase “in arrears”, behind in payments, is recorded from 1620,^[3][6] the 1610s in Etymonline,^[2] and “in arrear”, in debt, from 1621;^[3] Weekley also places the modern sense in the 17th century, evolved from the phrase.^[11] The plural for outstanding sums is recorded from 1648 and the singular for an overdue debt or duty from 1658.^[3] From before 1627 the singular could also mean the rear of a train or procession, and “to bring up the arrear” meant to come last (1650–1887).^[3] Johnson (1755) knew only the adverb, "behind", and noted that it was no longer in use except as retained by Spenser.^[15]

Timeline

• 1340 – “in arrear”, in time past (obsolete).^[3][6]
• 1432 – money due, the balance unpaid.^[6] Etymonline dates this sense to the early 15th century.^[2]
• 1620 – “in arrears”, behind in paying.^[3][6]
• 1621 – “in arrear”, in debt.^[3]
• before 1627 – the rear of a procession (archaic).^[3]
• 1648 – plural, outstanding sums, debts.^[3]
• 1658 – a duty or debt overdue and still undischarged.^[3]
• 1845 – “in arrear of”, behind in condition.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Money that is owed and should already have been paid; an overdue debt or obligation: The council wrote off the rent arrears of several tenants.^[16][3][4]
2. in arrears or in arrear: late in paying a debt or in meeting an obligation: They fell two months in arrears with the mortgage.^[16][5][3]
3. in arrears: behind in a race or competition.^[5]

Related words

• arrear
• arrearage
• rear
• retro-

Usage notes

Etymonline notes that the word generally implies that part of the money has already been paid.^[2] In the Royal Navy of the 19th century an officer's arrears were the difference between his full pay and what he could draw until his accounts were passed.^[17] Collins records arrearage as another name for arrears.^[16]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d e f Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
7. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (online 2024), 5th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
8. ^ The Chambers Dictionary (2014), 13th ed., Edinburgh: Chambers
9. ^ Stevenson, Angus, ed. (2010), Oxford Dictionary of English, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
10. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
11. ^ a b Weekley, Ernest (1921), An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, London: John Murray
12. ^ a b Kurath, Hans; Kuhn, Sherman M.; Lewis, Robert E., eds. (1952–2001), Middle English Dictionary, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press; online edition ed. Frances McSparran et al. (2000–2018)
13. ^ Benson, Larry D., Glossarial Concordance to Middle English (Chaucer, Gower), Johns Hopkins University, github.com/jhu-digital-manuscripts/gcme
14. ^ Skeat, W. W., ed. (1894), The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, vol. VI: Glossarial Index, Oxford: Clarendon Press
15. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.
16. ^ a b c Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
17. ^ Smyth, W. H. (1867), The Sailor's Word-Book: An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, London: Blackie and Son