Arrogant, haughty, or showing disdain; having an air of superiority or contempt for others.
From Old French 'hautain' (haughty), derived from 'haut' (high) plus a suffix suggesting manner or behavior. This word evolved from the sense of being 'high' (in rank or attitude) to meaning arrogantly superior.
Hautain is an almost-dead word that English nearly kept but lost to the similar 'haughty.' Both words trace back to Old French 'haut,' but 'haughty' sounded more English and won out—a perfect example of how slight sound preferences shape which words survive!
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