arriere-ban: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Historical/Literary)Formal/Literary/Historical
Quick answer
What does “arriere-ban” mean?
A medieval proclamation summoning vassals to military service.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medieval proclamation summoning vassals to military service; the body of people summoned.
In modern usage, it can metaphorically refer to a general call-up or mobilization of people for a cause, or to the group of people so assembled. It often connotes a feudal or historical context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning or usage due to its extreme rarity. It is equally obscure in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes historical scholarship, archaic law, or literary pretension.
Frequency
Virtually never encountered in contemporary speech or writing in either variety.
Grammar
How to Use “arriere-ban” in a Sentence
issue/proclaim an arriere-ban (verb + object)the arriere-ban of [king/nation] (noun + prepositional phrase)answer/respond to the arriere-ban (verb + prepositional phrase)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical texts discussing medieval European law, military organization, or feudalism.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
A precise term in medieval history and legal history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “arriere-ban”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “arriere-ban”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “arriere-ban”
- Misspelling: 'arrier-ban', 'arrieur-ban', 'arriere band'.
- Mispronunciation: placing stress on the first syllable 'AR-ee-er'. Correct stress is on 'riere/rier'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to arriere-ban someone'). The term is almost exclusively a noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare historical term. You will almost only encounter it in specialised texts about medieval history.
Historically, the 'ban' was the summons to the king's direct vassals. The 'arriere-ban' (rear-ban) was the subsequent summons to their vassals, a broader mobilization.
Only if you are writing specifically about medieval feudal military practices. In any other context, it will seem affected and obscure.
It comes from Anglo-French (the French used in medieval England), from 'arriere' (behind, secondary) + 'ban' (proclamation, summons), of Germanic origin.
A medieval proclamation summoning vassals to military service.
Arriere-ban is usually formal/literary/historical in register.
Arriere-ban: in British English it is pronounced /ˌarɪˈeə bɑːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæriˈɛr bæn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specifically for this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A REAR BAN(d). The king issues a ban to call up those in the REAR (the secondary vassals, after the primary ones), forming a BAND of troops.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A SUMMONER; SOCIETY IS A HIERARCHICAL PYRAMID (where obligations flow downward, and service flows upward).
Practice
Quiz
In a modern figurative sense, 'arriere-ban' could best be replaced by: