Pl. -æ. Also 6 arra. [L. arr(h)a, also arr(h)abo, a. Gr. ἀρραβών. See Liddell and Scott. Cf. ARLES.] Earnest-money, a part of the purchase-money given to ratify a contract; fig. a pledge.
1573. Anderson, Hymn Bened., 4 b (T.). By his spirite … we have … our arra and earnest penny of his assured covenant.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 303. Arrhæ, or earnest, is sometimes given by the buyer, as an evidence that the contract is perfected.
