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Gauntest: meaning, definitions and examples

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gauntest

 

[ ˈɡɔːntɛst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

physical appearance

Gauntest is the superlative form of gaunt, which describes someone who is very thin, typically due to illness or suffering. It conveys an extreme state of fragility and emaciation. Someone characterized by this adjective often appears hollow or skeletal, lacking healthy fat and muscle. In literature and conversation, this term conveys not only physical state but also emotional distress and hardship.

Synonyms

emaciated, haggard, scrawny, skinny

Examples of usage

  • The gauntest figure in the room caught everyone's attention.
  • She looked gauntest after the prolonged illness.
  • In the movie, the gauntest characters depicted the struggles of war.

Translations

Translations of the word "gauntest" in other languages:

🇵🇹 magríssimo

🇮🇳 पतला

🇩🇪 dürrer

🇮🇩 paling kurus

🇺🇦 найхудший

🇵🇱 najchudszy

🇯🇵 最も痩せた

🇫🇷 le plus maigre

🇪🇸 el más delgado

🇹🇷 en zayıf

🇰🇷 가장 마른

🇸🇦 الأكثر نحافة

🇨🇿 nejhubenější

🇸🇰 najchudší

🇨🇳 最瘦的

🇸🇮 najtanjši

🇮🇸 húðnasti

🇰🇿 ең арық

🇬🇪 ყველაზე გამხდარი

🇦🇿 ən arıq

🇲🇽 el más delgado

Word origin

The word 'gaunt' dates back to the Middle English term 'gaunt', which originated from the Old French 'gante' meaning 'thin, lean, or emaciated'. This word can be traced further back to the Latin 'canthus', which implies a thin or scanty appearance. Historically, gauntness has been associated with suffering or hardship, often reflecting social conditions like poverty or illness. The word evolved to describe not only the physical appearance but also a metaphorical state of despair and emotional distress. The superlative form, 'gauntest', gives emphasis to an extreme condition, commonly used in literary contexts to evoke compassion or highlight adversity experienced by characters.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #43,601, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.