gallant

¹ American  

[gal-uhnt, guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt, guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt, guh-lant, -lahnt] / ˈgæl ənt, gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt, ˈgæl ənt, gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt, ˈgæl ənt, gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt /

adjective

1. brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous.

   a gallant knight; a gallant rescue attempt.

   Synonyms:

   intrepid, daring, bold, heroic, courageous, valorous

2. exceptionally polite and attentive to others, especially to women; courtly.

   Synonyms:

   courteous, chivalrous

3. stately; grand.

   a gallant pageant.

4. showy, colorful, or stylish, as in dress; magnificent.

5. amorous; amatory.

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noun

1. a brave, noble-minded, or chivalrous man.

2. a man exceptionally attentive to women.

3. a stylish and dashing man.

4. a suitor or lover.

5. a paramour.

verb (used with object)

1. to court or act as a lover of (a woman).

2. to escort (a woman).

verb (used without object)

1. to attend or pay court as a gallant.

Gallant ² American  

[gal-uhnt] / ˈgæl ənt /

noun

1. Mavis, 1922–2014, Canadian short-story writer.

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gallant British  

adjective

1. brave and high-spirited; courageous and honourable; dashing

   a gallant warrior

2. (of a man) attentive to women; chivalrous

3. imposing; dignified; stately

   a gallant ship

4. archaic showy in dress

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noun

1. a woman's lover or suitor

2. a dashing or fashionable young man, esp one who pursues women

3. a brave, high-spirited, or adventurous man

verb

1. to court or flirt (with)

2. (tr) to attend or escort (a woman)

Related Words

See brave.

Other Word Forms

• gallantly adverb
• gallantness noun
• quasi-gallant adjective
• supergallant adjective
• supergallantness noun
• ungallant adjective

Etymology

Origin of gallant

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gala(u)nt, from Old French galant, present participle of galer “to amuse oneself, make merry,” from unattested Gallo-Romance walāre, derivative of unattested Frankish wala “good, happy”; well ¹, weal ¹

Example Sentences

Our response was gallant, but that's not what we want to be, we don't want to be a responding team.

From BBC

She smiled at him as they hauled themselves up it—a brief flash of teeth, effortful but gallant—and tried to wring the water from her clothes.

From Literature

Similarly, not all Faithfuls are gallant, as is confirmed by Michael Rapaport’s rabid behavior.

From Salon

Especially moving in “Neptune’s Fortune” is the insight and empathy Mr. Sancton brings to his consideration of the book’s bedeviled but oddly gallant protagonist.

From The Wall Street Journal

“While this is all very gallant of you, I can assure you that your girlfriend will be fine.”

From Literature

Related Words

• courageous
• courtly
• fearless
• gritty
• heroic
• honorable
• noble
• plucky
• quixotic
• valiant