Forms: 3–7 arer-, 4 arrir-, 4–7 arrer-, 5 (arrage), 6 arear, 7 arrier-, arrere-, arreer-, (arreage), 5– arrearage. See aphet. REARAGE. [a. OF. arerage, f. arere behind, mod. arrérage; cf. avant-age, ADVANTAGE.]
† 1. The state or condition of being behind, or in arrear, with the payment of what is due; indebtedness, debt. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 319. Now salle I wite þe taile, & put þe in þe Arerage.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 5913. Many in arrirage mon falle, And til perpetuele prison gang.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 604. Ther couthe noman bringe him in arrerage [v.r. a-rerage].
1540. Elyot, Image Govt. (1556), 79. Yf any were found in arrerage, he shuld … paye … four tymes as muche as the arrerage amounted to.
1608. 2nd Pt. Def. Reasons Refus. Subscr., 238. For his daily borrowing of him, is likely to run into that arrerage that he will not easely gett out of his debt.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Epigr., I. (1692), 283. Th’art in arrearage grown Some hundred Quarrels.
† b. with pl. In arrearages: in arrears. Obs.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XII. 297. So deepe in arerages.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. lxi. [lxiv.] 205. [He was] in his det in a grete some of money, longe renne in arrerages.
1605. Lond. Prodigal, I. ii. 230. The rogue puts me in ’rearages for orient pearl.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 614. Play most unfaithfull parts … and thus run into arrearedges.
2. gen. Backwardness, state of being in arrear.
1576. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 298. Charging him with great arrearage of account.
1841. Miss Kemble, Rec. Later Life, II. 159. When such an arrearage took place, the fittest thing to do was to answer first those received first.
1883. A. S. Hardy, But yet a Woman, 128. One of those homely country practitioners who make up their arrearage in science by a big heart, large sense, and wide experience.
3. concr. That which is in arrear; an amount overdue, an outstanding or unpaid sum or balance.
1466. Paston Lett., 557, II. 289. Xxli., which I will be gathered of the arrerage of my lyvelode.
1483. Cath. Angl., An Arrerage [v.r. Arreage], erreragia.
a. 1500. Reg. Civ. Ebor., 366 a. The arrerage of the said fee ferme.
1617. Bacon, in Fortesc. Papers, 23. To continewe the payment of the anuetye … and allso to pay the arrerage thereof.
1790. Cowper, Odyss., XXI. 18. Demanding payment of arrearage due.
1870. Daily News, 21 Sept., 5/5. The employers had no funds with which to pay the labourers, and a large arrearage of wages accumulated.
b. Something still in reserve.
1594. Drayton, Idea, 36. My Joyes arrerage leades me to my losse.
1854. De Quincey, in Page, Life (1877), II. xviii. 84. Which … leaves even to the thief a conscious arrearage of nobility and possible redemption.
4. pl. Items overdue, outstanding amounts, arrears; esp. moneys overdue; debts; = ARREAR 7.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 96. Nere the milse and merci of God self … That wolle the arerages forȝeve.
1453. Test. Ebor., II. 191. All þarrages … to me dewe at my dethe.
1483. Arnold, Chron. (1811), 271. First, the areragis of the last acompter.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., II. iv. 13. He’le grant the Tribute, send th’ Arrerages.
1637. Reliq. Wotton. (1672), 54. Such Arrearages as shall appear due unto me.
1691. Blount, Law Dict., Arrearages, the Remain of an Accompt, or a Sum of Money remaining in the Hands of an Accomptant. It is sometimes used more generally for any Money unpaid at a due Time.
1850. W. Irving, Granada, 24. A formal demand for the payment of arrearages.
