What does durant mean?
Durant is a rare and largely archaic English adjective meaning enduring, lasting, or continuing to exist. Derived from Old French, where it served as the present participle of the verb meaning 'to endure' or 'to last,' it entered Middle English alongside related words such as 'durable' and 'duration.' In modern English it survives only marginally: readers may meet it in older literary texts describing things like 'durant fame' or 'durant glory,' but it has otherwise been replaced by more familiar words such as 'lasting' and 'enduring.' Today, most encounters with 'durant' come not from vocabulary but from surnames — notably the American historians Will and Ariel Durant, whose eleven-volume The Story of Civilization made the name widely known. Because the word is flagged as obsolete by major dictionaries, writers should treat it as a curiosity of linguistic history rather than a live option in contemporary prose, though it can lend an antique flavour when used deliberately.
adjectiveAn archaic or obsolete English adjective meaning enduring, lasting, or continuing in existence; it survives chiefly in historical texts and as a surname.
- (archaic) Enduring, lasting, or continuing in existence.
"The durant fame of the ancient poet outlived the empires that had once honoured him."
"The durant glory of Rome was a favourite theme of Renaissance writers."
"He spoke of a durant peace, one that no treaty could easily undo."
Before 'during' took over everyday English, its cousin 'durant' did the work of an adjective — meaning 'ever-lasting' — before fading into history books and surnames.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of durant
Durant comes from Old French 'durant,' the present participle of 'durer,' meaning 'to last or endure,' which itself traces back to Latin 'durare,' from 'durus' ('hard'). It was borrowed into English during the medieval period and used adjectivally in phrases such as 'in days durant.' As English evolved, the participle sense was absorbed into the preposition 'during,' leaving 'durant' as an archaic survival. Its Latin root also gives us 'durable,' 'duration,' and 'endure.'
How durant is actually used
Extremely rare in modern usage and flagged as archaic or obsolete by major dictionaries; readers will encounter it almost exclusively in older literature, genealogy, or as a proper surname (e.g., historian Will Durant). Avoid using it in contemporary writing except for deliberate stylistic or historical effect.
Easily confused with durant
'During' is a common preposition meaning 'throughout the course of,' while 'durant' is a rare archaic adjective meaning 'lasting' — they look similar but belong to entirely different grammatical categories.
'Durable' describes something able to withstand wear and last a long time, whereas 'durant' is an obsolete form simply meaning lasting or enduring.