/ri pair"ee euhn, ruy-/ , adj.
1. of, pertaining to, or situated or dwelling on the bank of a river or other body of water: riparian villas.
n.
2. Law. a person who owns land on the bank of a natural watercourse or body of water.
[ 1840-50; ripari ( us ) that frequents riverbanks ( rip ( a ) bank of a RIVER + -arius -ARY) + -AN ]