■ adjective
1》 flourishing or spreading unchecked: ~ inflation.
2》 unrestrained in action or performance.
3》 [usu. postposition ] Heraldry (of an animal) represented standing on its left hind foot with its forefeet in the air.
Derivatives
rampancy noun
~ly adverb
Word History
Rampant entered Middle English from Old French, in which it meant 'crawling' (from ramper 'to crawl'). As in French, early use in English had the adjective following the noun, especially in heraldry, as in 'lion ~', in which the lion is depicted in profile, standing on its left hind foot, with forefeet and tail raised. By extension to other wild animals rearing up in a threatening manner, ~ acquired the sense 'fierce', from which developed the current meaning 'unrestrained'.