arrear

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Towards the rear, backwards.

   • She, (Ladie) having well before approoved / The feends to be too cruell and severe, / Observ'd th' appointed way, as her behooved, / Ne ever did her ey-sight turne arere [...].
2. 2

   Behind time

   Behind time; overdue.

   • In case the annuity should be arrear for sixty days being lawfully demanded, then the trustee might enter upon the premises assigned [...].
3. 3

   Work to be done, obligation.

   • November 4, 1866, James David Forbes, letter to E. C. Batten I have a large arrear of letters to write.
   • My own work, with its manifold arrears, took me all day to clear off.
   • After World War II it took time to clear up the arrears of track maintenance on both lines and it was not until 1953 that the L.M.R. restored any two-hour schedules, the W.R. following suit a year later.
4. ›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Unpaid debt.

      • fall into arrears
      • I know the debt is in arrears / The dog has not been fed in years / It's even worse than it appears, but / It's alright
   2. 5

      That which is in the rear or behind.

The neighborhood