Arrière
/aʁ.jɛʁ/noun
A French-derived English term meaning at or toward the rear, chiefly used in compounds such as arrière-garde.
Did you know?Arrière is related to English “rear” and “arrears,” both descending through Old French from Latin retro, meaning “backward” or “behind.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*terh₂
“Through, across; a proposed ancient root connected with movement beyond or behind”
Classical Latin
Latin
retrō
“Backward, behind, or toward the rear”
Late Latin
Latin
ad retrō
“Toward the back; behind”
12th Century
Old French
arriere
“Behind, at the back, or in the rear”
14th Century
Middle English
arere
“Behind or backward; also the source of English arrears”
Modern English
English
arrière
“A French loanword meaning rear or behind, especially in military and compound expressions”