pursuivant

[ pur-swi-vuh nt ]

/ ˈpɜr swɪ vənt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pursuivant ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a heraldic officer of the lowest class, ranking below a herald.

an official attendant on heralds.

any attendant or follower.

RELATED WORDS

messenger, catchpole, summoner

Nearby words

Origin of pursuivant

1350–1400; < French poursuivant (present participle of poursuivre to pursue, follow ≪ Latin prōsequī); replacing Middle English pursevant < Middle French pursivant < Latin, as above

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

Examples from the Web for pursuivant

“If we cannot make this contumacious rascal speak, we will find others more tractable,” observed the pursuivant.
Guy Fawkes|William Harrison Ainsworth
Didn't I always tell you that only the ancient chivalry of the Pursuivant could take the affair au grand srieux?'
The Pillars of the House, Vol. II (of 2)|Charlotte M. Yonge
It was the pursuivant, who, with the prudence that characterized all his proceedings, had followed in the rear.
Guy Fawkes|William Harrison Ainsworth
This accomplished, the pursuivant, commanding his attendants to follow him, dashed through the aperture.
Guy Fawkes|William Harrison Ainsworth

“I would sooner trust myself to the pursuivant and his band, than venture upon its treacherous surface,” she replied.
Guy Fawkes|William Harrison Ainsworth

British Dictionary definitions for pursuivant

pursuivant

/ (ˈpɜːsɪvənt) /

noun

the lowest rank of heraldic officer

history a state or royal messenger

history a follower or attendant

Word Origin for pursuivant

C14: from Old French, from poursivre to pursue

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