Upright, erect, or attentive; having an alert or upright posture or attention.
From Latin 'arrectus,' past participle of 'arigere' (to raise up), combining 'ad' (to) and 'regere' (to direct or rule). The term gradually became archaic as 'erect' became the standard form.
Poets used 'arrect' to describe listeners with 'arrect ears'—ears standing up in attention—a vivid image of focused listening that disappeared from English alongside the word itself!
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