gallant

[ adjective gal-uhnt for 1, 3, 4; guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt for 2, 5; noun guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt; verb guh-lant, -lahnt ]

/ adjective ˈgæl ənt for 1, 3, 4; gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt, ˈgæl ənt for 2, 5; noun gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt, ˈgæl ənt; verb gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gallant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous: a gallant knight; a gallant rescue attempt.

exceptionally polite and attentive to women; courtly.

stately; grand: a gallant pageant.

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

amorous; amatory.

noun

a brave, noble-minded, or chivalrous man.

a man exceptionally attentive to women.

a stylish and dashing man.

a suitor or lover.

a paramour.

verb (used with object)

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

to escort (a woman).

verb (used without object)

to attend or pay court as a gallant.

Nearby words

Origin of gallant

1350–1400; Middle English gala(u)nt < Old French galant, present participle of galer to amuse oneself, make merry < Gallo-Romance *walāre, derivative of Frankish *wala good, happy; see well¹, weal¹

SYNONYMS FOR gallant

1 valorous, courageous, heroic, bold, daring, intrepid.

2 chivalrous, courteous.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gallant ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

gal·lant·ly, adverbgal·lant·ness, nounqua·si-gal·lant, adjectivequa·si-gal·lant·ly, adverb

su·per·gal·lant, adjectivesu·per·gal·lant·ly, adverbsu·per·gal·lant·ness, nounun·gal·lant, adjectiveun·gal·lant·ly, adverb

Synonym study

1. See brave.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gallantly

He was there at Gettysburg, gallantly leading outnumbered Yankee divisions before suffering a neck injury.
Good Man, Abner Doubleday|Michael Tomasky|March 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“I see what this man [the president] sees in you,” Stewart gallantly replied.
Michelle Obama’s Media Blitz Through ‘The Daily Show,’ ‘The View’ & More|Lloyd Grove|May 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The Franco-Belgian garrison was, however, constantly reinforced, and conducted itself most gallantly.
Ypres 1914|Otto Schwink
Then, in his desire to comfort her, he gallantly uttered in broken English whatever came into his head.
The Quest|Frederik van Eeden

Now he laid his open palm on his bosom, and now hinging it abroad, he gallantly snapped his fingers in the air.
Red Gauntlet|Sir Walter Scott
"Let me suggest a better way," he replied, gallantly, as he took his seat at the table again.
Pretty Madcap Dorothy|Laura Jean Libbey
Gallantly our brave soldiers made their way up the heights—gallantly they were carried, and right nobly the guns were captured.
Our Soldiers|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for gallantly

gallant

adjective (ˈɡælənt)

brave and high-spirited; courageous and honourable; dashinga gallant warrior

(ɡəˈlænt, ˈɡælənt) (of a man) attentive to women; chivalrous

imposing; dignified; statelya gallant ship

archaic showy in dress

noun (ˈɡælənt, ɡəˈlænt) archaic

a woman's lover or suitor

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

a brave, high-spirited, or adventurous man

verb (ɡəˈlænt, ˈɡælənt) rare

(when intr, usually foll by with) to court or flirt (with)

(tr) to attend or escort (a woman)

Derived Formsgallantly, adverbgallantness, noun

Word Origin for gallant

C15: from Old French galant, from galer to make merry, from gale enjoyment, pleasure, of Germanic origin; related to Old English wela weal ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for gallantly (1 of 3)

gallantly

adv.

1550s, "showily," from gallant + -ly (2). Meaning "with exaggerated courtesy" is from 1610s.

Word Origin and History for gallantly (1 of 3)

gallant

adj.

mid-15c., "showy, finely dressed; gay, merry," from Old French galant "courteous," earlier "amusing, entertaining; lively, bold" (14c.), present participle of galer "rejoice, make merry," generally held to be from Latinized verb form of Frankish *wala- "good, well," from Proto-Germanic *wal- (cf. Old High German wallon "to wander, go on a pilgrimage"), from PIE *wel- "to wish, will" (see will (v.)), "but the transition of sense offers difficulties that are not fully cleared up" [OED]. Sense of "politely attentive to women" was adopted 17c. from French.

Word Origin and History for gallantly (2 of 3)

gallant

"man of fashion and pleasure," mid-15c., earlier "dissolute man, rake" (early 15c.); from gallant (adj.).

gallant

adjective

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of gallant

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for gallantly

British Dictionary definitions for gallantly

gallant

adjective (ˈɡælənt)

noun (ˈɡælənt, ɡəˈlænt) archaic

verb (ɡəˈlænt, ˈɡælənt) rare

Word Origin for gallant

Word Origin and History for gallantly (1 of 3)

gallantly

Word Origin and History for gallantly (1 of 3)

gallant

Word Origin and History for gallantly (2 of 3)

gallant