chevalier

¹ American  

[shev-uh-leer, shuh-val-yey, -vahl-] / ˌʃɛv əˈlɪər, ʃəˈvæl yeɪ, -ˈvɑl- /

noun

1. a member of certain orders of honor or merit.

   a chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

2. French History. the lowest title of rank in the old nobility.

3. a chivalrous man; cavalier.

4. Archaic. a knight.

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Chevalier ² American  

[shuh-val-yey, -vahl-, shuh-va-lyey] / ʃəˈvæl yeɪ, -ˈvɑl-, ʃə vaˈlyeɪ /

noun

1. Maurice (Auguste) 1888–1972, French actor and singer.

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chevalier ¹ British  

/ ˌʃɛˈvælɪə /

noun

1. a member of certain orders of merit, such as the French Legion of Honour

2. French history

   1. a mounted soldier or knight, esp a military cadet

   2. the lowest title of rank in the old French nobility

3. an archaic word for knight

4. a chivalrous man; gallant

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Chevalier ² British  

noun

1. Albert. 1861–1923, British music hall entertainer, remembered for his cockney songs

2. Maurice (mɔris). 1888–1972, French singer and film actor

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Etymology

Origin of chevalier

1250–1300; < Middle French; replacing late Middle English chivaler < Anglo-French. See cavalier

Example Sentences

His family, who call him notre petit chevalier - our little knight - said, in an update posted on a GoFundMe page, their house was being adapted for his "precarious" walking.

From BBC • Sep. 3, 2023

He caught the attention of King Louis XV, who named him a chevalier.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 8, 2022

In March, she was named a chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France’s Ministry of Culture and Communication.

From New York Times • Sep. 22, 2018

She was also appointed a chevalier of France’s Legion of Honour in 2010.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2017

“Gawaine,” said Mordred to the air, “is such a preux chevalier that nobody must say anything wicked, or there will be trouble. You see, he is strong—and be apes the great Sir Lancelot.”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White