argent, argente

& a. [In Fr. argente; Sp. argen; Port. & Ital. argento; Lat. argentum; Gr. ἄργυρος ( urguros ) = the white metal, silver; ἀργός ( argos ) = shining, bright; Sanse, ragatam = silver; ragatas white; ra garm = to shine; argunas = light, from the root arg. The Teutons have quite a different word for silver, which is in A.S. seolfer, seolfor, sylfor; Sw. silfver; Dan. solv; Dut. zilver; Ger. silber. Probably, therefore, the discovery of silver was not made till the Teutonic race had separated from the old Aryan nations in Central Asia, which gave origin to nearly all the European nations. Or they may have forgotten it, and after some ages re-discovered it independently.] A. As substantive: Silver, figuratively rather than literally. 1. Ordinary Language: Used of the silvery colour of certain clouds or their margins, or anything white and shining. "The polish'd argent of her breast to sight Laid bare" Tennyson: A Dream of Fair Women. "And soft, reflected clouds of gold and argent !" Long fellow: The Golden Legend, i. 2. Her.: Used of the silvery colour on coats of arms. In the arms of princes it is sometimes called Lune , and in those of peers, Pearl . In engravings it is generally represented by the natural colour of the paper. It is intended to symbolise purity, innocence, beauty, or gentlene , graces which add a lustre and attractivene to their po e or like that of silver lit up by the rays of the sun. ARGENT. "He beareth gules upon his shield, A chevron argent in the field." Long fellow: Tales of a Wayside Inn , Prelude. B. As adjective: Silvery-white, brilliant white; shining. 1. Ordinary Language: "Or ask of yonder argent fields above, Why Jove's satellites are le than Jove?"-Pope. 2. Technically . Used (a) Zool. Of the scales of fishes, or of sil very markings on the wings of insects. (b) Her. Of the colouring on coats of arms. "Rinaldo flings As swift as fiery lightning kindled new; His argent eagle with her silver wings, In field of azure, fair Erminia knew."- Fairfax . argent and sable moth. The Mela nippe hastata . Its colour is delicate creamy white, with jet-black markings. It belongs to the family Geometridæ. argent content. Ready money. ( Scotch . ) "King Wyllyam sal pay ane hundreth you sand pound is striueling for his redemption, the ane half to be pay it with argent content."-Bellend. Chron., bk. xiii., c. 5. argent-horned, a. Silver-horned. "Bright as the argent - horned moone." Love lace: Luc., p. 151. Having silvery or