statant

9.9

An animal that stands on all four feet like a dog or lion

adjective
/ˈsteɪtənt/

Archaic

: estante

Several medieval shields show hounds statant as a symbol of loyalty.

Examples

The heraldic description specifies a wolf statant beneath a tree.
In the family crest, the lion is depicted statant with its tail curved over its back.
The statant lion is a symbol of courage.
In the coat of arms, the statant horse represents loyalty.
In the family crest, the lion is depicted statant with its tail curved over its back.
Several medieval shields show hounds statant as a symbol of loyalty.
The heraldic description specifies a wolf statant beneath a tree.

Antonyms

prone

10 3.9

Lying flat with the front of your body on the ground

reclining

1 3.7

Lying or leaning back to rest in a comfortable position

Surface Forms

statant positive

Morphology

statant = stat + ant

The form is a borrowing (Latin/French present-participle form) and the root 'stat' is not a productive standalone English word, so learners cannot reliably derive 'standing' from its parts.

Etymology

The word statant comes from the Latin root stare, meaning 'to stand', and is like the English word stand. In old coat-of-arms language it describes an animal 'standing' on all four feet, so the origin explains the word's modern meaning.