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gallant

 - 4 dictionary results

gal⋅lant

  [adj. gal-uhnt for 1, 3, 4; guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt for 2, 5; n. guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt; v. guh-lant, -lahnt]
Use gallant in a Sentence
–adjective
1. brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous: a gallant knight; a gallant rescue attempt.
2. exceptionally polite and attentive to women; courtly.
3. stately; grand: a gallant pageant.
4. showy, colorful, or stylish, as in dress; magnificent.
5. amorous; amatory.
–noun
6. a brave, noble-minded, or chivalrous man.
7. a man exceptionally attentive to women.
8. a stylish and dashing man.
9. a suitor or lover.
10. a paramour.
–verb (used with object)
11. to court or act as a lover of (a woman).
12. to escort (a woman).
–verb (used without object)
13. to attend or pay court as a gallant.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME gala(u)nt < OF galant, prp. of galer to amuse oneself, make merry < Gallo-Rom *walāre, deriv. of Frankish *wala good, happy; see well 1 , weal 1

Related forms:
gal⋅lant⋅ly, adverb
gal⋅lant⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. valorous, courageous, heroic, bold, daring, intrepid. See brave. 2. chivalrous, courteous.

Gal⋅lant

  [gal-uhnt]
–noun
Mavis, born 1922, Canadian short-story writer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To gallant
gal·lant   (gāl'ənt)   
adj.  

  1. Smartly or boldly stylish; dashing: a gallant feathered hat; cut a gallant figure at the coronation.

    1. Unflinching in battle or action; valiant: put up a gallant resistance to the attackers.

    2. Nobly or selflessly resolute: made a gallant attempt to save his friend's reputation.

    3. Courteously attentive especially to women; chivalrous.

    4. Flirtatious; amorous.

  3. Stately; majestic.

  4. (gə-lānt', -länt')

    1. Courteously attentive especially to women; chivalrous.

    2. Flirtatious; amorous.

n.   (gə-lānt', -länt', gāl'ənt)

  1. A fashionable young man.

    1. A man courteously attentive to women.

    2. A woman's lover; a paramour.

v.   (gə-lānt', -länt') gal·lant·ed, gal·lant·ing, gal·lants

v.   tr.
To woo or pay court to (a lady).
v.   intr.
To play the gallant.

[Middle English galaunt, from Old French galant, present participle of galer, to rejoice, of Germanic origin; see wel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
gal'lant·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

gallant  (adj.)
c.1420, from O.Fr. galant "courteous," earlier "spirited, dashing," prp. of galer "make merry," from gala (q.v.). Sense of "politely attentive to women" was adopted from Fr. 17c. The noun, "man of fashion and pleasure," is from 1388.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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