rank2

 
Pronunciation: /raŋk/

adjective

  • 1(of vegetation) growing too thickly and coarsely: clumps of rank grass
  • 2having a foul or offensive smell: breathing rank air
  • informal very unpleasant: the tea at work is nice but the coffee’s pretty rank
  • 3 [attributive] (especially of something bad or deficient) complete and utter (used for emphasis): rank stupidity a rank outsider

Derivatives

rankly

adverb

rankness

noun

Origin:

Old English ranc 'proud, rebellious, sturdy', also 'fully grown', of Germanic origin. An early sense 'luxuriant' gave rise to 'too luxuriant', whence the negative connotation of modern usage