Middle English; earliest use found in Arthour and Merlin. From Anglo-Norman remanaunt, remenaunt, remennaunt, remeinaunt, etc., Anglo-Norman and Middle French remanant, remenant, remaignant, etc. (also remanent; French rémanent: see below) that which remains, present participle of remanoir. Compare post-classical Latin remanantum residue, remainder, remanentum, remenantum remnant, Spanish remanente, noun, Portuguese remanente, adjective, Italian rimanente, adjective and noun. Compare slightly earlier aremanant. Compare later remanent, remanent, which are identical in pronunciation to this word.