Etymology

arrear

A1R1R1E1A1R1

Today it means: Towards the rear, backwards. Full definition →

First used 14th–16th c.Middle English arere ← Old French arere ← Vulgar Latin *ad retro
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The story

  1. Vulgar Latin · derived from*ad retro
  2. Old French · derived fromarere
  3. Middle English · inherited fromarere
  4. English todayarrear

From Middle English arere, from Old French arere, from Vulgar Latin *ad retro (literally “to the rear”).

First known use, by meaning

  • 14th–16th c. Towards the rear, backwards.
  • 15th–19th c. Behind time; overdue.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.