chalant

English edit

Etymology edit

A back-formation from nonchalant, itself from Old French non- + chalant (“concerning, bothering”). By this process, the original Old French participle was coincidentally re-formed.

Adjective edit

chalant (comparative more chalant, superlative most chalant)

(nonce word, humorous) Not nonchalant; careful, attentive, or concerned.
- 2001, Gill Sanderson, A Full Recovery, page 20:
  'I draw the line at nonchalant. Sometimes I think you're very chalant.'
- 2008, Golf Jokes and Anecdotes from Around the World, page 28:
  Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts.
- 2011, Sarah Schrank, Art and the City:
  Lawrence Lipton responded, "The lady is quite right, of course. It's sinful to be nonchalant. We shall endeavor to be more chalant in the future."

Anagrams edit

Chantal, canthal

French edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Old French chalant, the present participle of chaloir.

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /ʃa.lɑ̃/

Noun edit

chalant m (plural chalants, feminine chalante)

(now rare) Alternative form of chaland
- 1704, Giorgio Maria Rapparini, Lignes au point, ou Lumieres nouvelles pour montrer le grand chemin de la Vérité aux égarez de l’Église, Cologne, page 251:
  Il falloit abſolument en ouvrant ſa boutique en uſer avec plus de ruſe pour attirer des Chalants en grand nombre, & debiter ſes nippes à bon marché.
  It was absolutely necessary when opening one's shop to be more cunning in order to attract a large number of regular customers, and to sell one's clothes cheaply.

Latin edit

Verb edit

chalant

third-person plural present active indicative of chalō

Old French edit

Verb edit

chalant

present participle of chaloir

Descendants edit

French: chaland