Forms: 4 ariere, 7 arrier, arrere, arreare, 7– arrear. [The prec. adv. used absolutely: ‘that which is behind.’ At first only in the phr. in arrear, which was perhaps rather a compound adverb, like F. en arrière, en avant (answering to ARREAR adv. in senses 2–4), but led the way to truly substantive uses, in which the pl. arrears is now common.]
I. In arrear.
† 1. In time past. Obs.
1340. Ayenb., 165. Ase habbeþ ydo ine ariere and þe filozofe payen and þe holy Cristene man.
† 2. In the hinder place or position: see REAR.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 33. Mind and Tongue go commonly together (and the first comes sometimes in the arreare).
3. Backward, behindhand as to state or condition. In arrear of: behind.
1845. Ford, Handbk. Spain, i. 59. The arts of medicine and surgery are somewhat in arrear in Spain.
1859. Reeve, Brittany, 238. The science of natural history [was] in arrear of the arts.
4. Behind in the discharge of duties or liabilities; in indebtedness, in debt. Cf. ARREARAGE.
1621. James I., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 300, III. 169. If he once runne in arreare, he will ever goe bakkwarde.
1676. Clarendon, Surv. Leviath., 297. Who in truth are in too great an arrear to him.
1678. R. Lestrange, Seneca’s Mor. (1702), 72. But when I have paid that, I am still in Arrier.
1713. Steele, Englishm., Pref. 6. The World is in Arrear to your Virtue.
1806–31. A. Knox, Rem. (1844), I. 70. I am two or three letters in arrear to different persons.
b. In arrears: (with same meaning.)
1620. Naunton, in Fortesc. Papers, 140. The arreares they ar in for them.
1700. A. Charlett, in Pepys’ Diary, VI. 228. I am very much in arrears to you for a thousand civilities.
1718. Free-thinker, No. 93. 264. I am run deeply in Arrears to my Correspondents.
1810. Hutton, Course Math., I. 260. When an annuity is forborn for some years, or the payments not made for that time, the annuity is said to be in Arrears.
II. Without in.
5. The hinder part of anything, especially of a train or procession; the rear. arch.
a. 1627. Hayward, Edward VI. (1630), 18. Lastly followed the Arrier wherein were betweene 3 and 4000 foote.
1661. Heylin, Hist. Ref. (1674), II. 83 (D.). The Duke of Suffolk and Sir John Cheek … shutting up the arrear.
1869. Dixon, Tower, in Casquet of Lit. (1877), IV. 132/1. A vessel firing guns in front, and a long arrear of craft behind.
† 6. A portion held back; a deduction. Obs.
1768. Simes, Mil. Medley, s.v., Arriers, is a deduction made from the officers according to their full pay.
† b. fig. Something held in reserve; a sequel. Obs.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. i. 3. Though there were never an arrear behinde of eternal hell.
1676. Bates, Immort. Soul, xii. 227. There remains in another World a dreadful arrear of misery to be endured.
7. That wherein one has fallen behind. A duty or liability overdue and still remaining undischarged, esp. a debt remaining unpaid.
1658. Whole Duty Man, xiv. § 24. 116. When Josiah had destroyed idolatry … yet there was an old arrear of Manasseh his grandfather.
a. 1733. North, Lives, I. 435. Nothing sat heavier on his spirits than a great arrear of business.
1796. Burke, Lett. Noble Ld., Wks. VIII. 4. Having so faithfully and so fully acquitted towards me whatever arrear of debt was left undischarged.
1840. Dickens, Lett. (1880), I. 32. To you … I owe a long arrear of thanks.
b. in plural. Outstanding liabilities, amounts or balances; moneys due; debts.
1648. Petit. East. Ass., 24. To pay the late Arrears of the Army.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. I. 134. The Profits and long-detained Arreres of the Popes Patrimoniolum.
a. 1711. Ken, Poet. Wks., 1721, IV. 11. The Blood of dying God alone, can for my vast Arrears atone.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple (1863), 189. To obtain my arrears of pay, and some prize-money which I find due.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., § 1. 22. The arrears of two centuries require to be cleared off.
