-ant Also -ent.
Forming adjectives and nouns.
[French -ant or -ent, taken from Latin present participial forms.]
Such adjectives and nouns often parallel words in -ance or -ence (see -ance), and similar confusion accompanies their spelling. Adjectives in these endings include arrogant, convenient, different, obedient, permanent, portent, reminiscent, and resident. Nouns often denote a person or thing acting in some capacity: agent, applicant, contestant, deodorant, opponent, propellant, superintendent, tenant. See also -esce (for -escent), -fic, -facient, -ment, and -ulent.
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