Courant

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈkʊɹənt/

Definitions

1. A current in fluid dynamics describes the flow of liquid or gas, while it can also refer to a prevalent or widespread idea or trend in culture or society
2. In fluid mechanics, it signifies the movement of water or air, and it simultaneously indicates the common or popular opinion or fashion among groups
3. This term encompasses both fluid currents in nature, such as rivers or winds, as well as the dominant themes observed in the social consciousness or collective thought

Etymology: The adjective "courant" is a plain loan from French, and its meaning in English was already present in its parent language: French "courant" simply means "running," the present participle of "courir," to run. Latin "currere" (to run) is its ultimate source, and the same root gives English "current," "course," "courier," "hurry," and "rush." Few English words are so closely related yet look so different, because "courant" arrived through French rather than directly from Latin. In heraldry, "courant" describes an animal shown running, as in the phrase "a lion courant," which pictures the beast in full stride with one foreleg raised. That sense of motion carries into the modern meanings. The fluid-mechanics sense, where "courant" refers to the movement of water or air, follows the same logic as "current," since a stream is simply a thing that runs. The extension to popular opinion or fashion moves from literal flow to the flow of prevailing taste, which is why the word now sits comfortably beside both physical and social uses.