Definition of arrear
1 : the state of being behind in the discharge of obligations
—usually used in pluralThey were in arrears with the rent. [=they had failed to pay the rent when it was due]
2a : an unfinished duty
—usually used in pluralarrears of work that have piled up
b : an unpaid and overdue debt
—usually used in pluralpaying off the arrears of the past several months
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Time Traveler for arrear
The first known use of arrear was in 1586
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