- 1猖獗的、蔓延的
Rampant describes something bad that is spreading or growing quickly, without anyone being able to control it — like rampant crime, rampant disease, or rampant rumors going around a school. It almost always has a negative feeling; you would not usually describe something good as rampant.
From the word’s history
From Middle English rampand, from Old French ramper 'to creep, climb'; first 'standing on the hind legs' (1382).
來自古法文 ramper「攀爬」，最早指動物用後腿立起。
組成可能源自古法文 ramper，意思是「爬行、攀爬」。
原始詞典資料6 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，摘錄並精簡格式，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
rampantadj/ˈɹæm.pənt/
- 1
Rearing on both hind legs with the forelegs extended.
- The Vienna riding school displays splendid rampant movement.
- 2
governmentheraldryhobbiesRearing up, especially on its hind leg(s), with a foreleg raised and in profile.
- ‘I forget your coat of arms.’ ‘A human foot d’or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel.’
- little pieces of moustache on his upper lip, like a pair of minnows rampant
- 3
architectureTilted, said of an arch with one side higher than the other, or a vault whose two abutments are located on an inclined plane.
- 4
Unrestrained or unchecked, usually in a negative manner.
- Weeds are rampant in any neglected garden.
- Conditions were horrendous aboard most British naval vessels at the time. Scurvy and other diseases ran rampant, killing more seamen each year than all other causes combined, including combat.
- 5
Rife, or occurring widely, frequently or menacingly.
- There was rampant corruption in the city.
rampantadv/ˈɹæm.pənt/
- 1
informalRampantly.
- Things seem to be running rampant around here lately.
摘錄自 英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary，已精簡格式；依 CC BY-SA 4.0 授權使用，改動後的內容同樣以此授權提供。