valiant
[val-yuh nt]
- boldly courageous; brave; stout-hearted: a valiant soldier.
- marked by or showing bravery or valor; heroic: to make a valiant effort.
- worthy; excellent.
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Origin of valiant
1275–1325; Middle English valia(u)nt < Anglo-French; Middle French vaillant, present participle of valoir to be of worth < Latin valēre; see -ant
Synonyms
See more synonyms for valiant on Thesaurus.com1. valorous, dauntless.
Synonym study
1. See brave.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for valiant
Contemporary Examples
It seems to me that he is playing the part of the valiant hero nearing his end.
It is a valiant, encyclopedic attempt of a star jurist to give voice(s) to an embattled philosophical position.
Her valiant recovery made her an inspiration for everyone, and an icon for Democrats.
The savage beheading carried out by the thugs of the so-called Islamic State ended the life of brave man and a valiant journalist.
In its finest World Cup victory, a valiant U.S. team gets revenge on the country that knocked it out of the last two cups.
Historical Examples
I have seen them fight too often not to know that they are very hardy and valiant gentlemen.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
I had thought that you were in Spain with the valiant Henry of Trastamare.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
But they are simple-hearted and valiant servants of their Master.
Camps, Quarters and Casual PlacesArchibald Forbes
"I am your enemy," answered the valiant Pygmy, in his mightiest squeak.
Tanglewood TalesNathaniel Hawthorne
The fierce Hunding is to fight with my dearest friend--the valiant Siegmund.
Opera Stories from WagnerFlorence Akin
valiant
- courageous, intrepid, or stout-hearted; brave
- marked by bravery or couragea valiant deed
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French vaillant, from valoir to be of value, from Latin valēre to be strong
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 valiant
adj.
early 14c. (late 12c. in surnames), from Anglo-French and Old French valliant "stalwart, brave," from present participle of valoir "be worthy," originally "be strong," from Latin valere "be strong, be well, be worth, have power, be able," from PIE root *wal- "be strong" (cf. Old English wealdan "to rule," Old High German -walt, -wald "power" (in personal names), Old Norse valdr "ruler," Old Church Slavonic vlasti "to rule over," Lithuanian valdyti "to have power," Celtic *walos- "ruler," Old Irish flaith "dominion," Welsh gallu "to be able"). Related: Valiantly.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper