My son received the word "hardent" for his homework and I cannot find
the definition anywhere. Can you help?

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Request for Question Clarification by palitoy-ga on 22 Feb 2006 09:19 PST

I have searched many of the online dictionaries and like you cannot
come up with any matches for "hardent".  I am assuming of course that
this word is in english (if it is not please let me know!).

Is it possible that your son misheard the word and in fact needs to
investigate "ardent"?

If this is not the case, what is the nature of the homework?  Is the
word given in any context?  This may help the researcher track down
this unusual word.

palitoy-ga

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Clarification of Question by busybro-ga on 22 Feb 2006 09:23 PST

To clarify, the word is "hardent"  as it is spelled. He is supposed to
use it in a sentence but we don't know what it means. I would guess
that it is another spelling of the word "ardent" but I don't know....

There are several instances of it's usage on the Internet.  Most of
these are obvious misuses of the word ardent.  Other possibilities
include a typo of the word hardest and misuse of the word hardened. 
There are several though that seem not to fit in these categories:

"...by default - system configuration is hardent and many penetration
tools are included to test your security or the security of your
network&remote machines..."

http://savannah.gnu.org/task/?func=detailitem&item_id=4078



"...remembring that these washers are hardent at 58-60 degree (case
harding) drum vibrating at 1400 rpm by a motor of 1 hp..."

http://www.finishing.com/112/98.shtml




"...The polished stainless steel 42mm case has a hardent mineral glass
with a skeleton back to see the watch movement..."

http://auctions.shopnbc.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=65935500&prmenbr=31609859&aunbr=66282210

Hi busybro

The word 'hardent' is not to be found in the complete Oxford English
Dictionary (the most comprehensive dictionary of English) which goes
from 'hardener' to 'harder'.
Usage on the internet that is not relating to a company name seems to
be either misuse or misspelling.
I think you will find the teacher has made a spelling mistake.
(Either that or a recidivist Eliza Doolittle has come out of
retirement to train the youth of today.)

<accent=pseudoCockney>
being squire, your most hardent hadmirer,
</accent>

htfb

I agree with the other comments. There is no "hardent" in the English
language. It seems likely that the teacher made a typographical error.

"My teacher gave me the term "hardent" to use in a sentence, b ut that
didn't go over so well."

Just to be sure, your som is in primary or secondary school and not
some doctorate program in linguistics, right?