gallant Hear it!

gallant Definition

gal·lant (galənt; for adj.4 & n. usually, and for v. always, gə lant, -länt)

adjective

  1. showy and lively in dress or manner
  2. stately; imposing a gallant ship
  3. brave and noble; high-spirited and daring
    1. polite and attentive to women in a courtly way
    2. having to do with love; amorous

Etymology: ME galaunt < OFr galant, merry, brave, prp. of galer, to rejoice, make merry < gala: see gala

noun

  1. Now Rare a high-spirited, stylish man
  2. a man attentive and polite to women
  3. a lover or paramour

transitive verb

  1. Now Rare to court (a woman)
  2. to escort or accompany (a woman)

intransitive verb

Now Rare to court a woman

gallant Related Forms

gal·lantly adverb

gallant Synonyms

gallant

modif.

courageous, spirited, noble, chivalrous; see brave 1, chivalrous. See syn. study at polite.

gallant Usage Examples

Preposition: in

defeat: Gallant in defeat three cheers were offered by the Singles, which were returned by the wheezing Marrieds.

Adjective modifier

top: A gale apprehensive took in and furled the Royals and top gallants and also a couple of reefs in top sails.

Modifies a noun

  • knight: Yes I was the only gallant knight of our mob.
  • deed: A gallant deed in war or in sport will always warm their hearts.
  • comrade: We all mourn the loss of a gallant comrade.
  • gentleman: And, in our midst, went the bodies of three gallant gentlemen.
  • ally: Due regard has been given to the activities of our gallant French allies on the southern part of the line.
  • lad: I can also confirm that our gallant lads do appreciate the support they get from the masses.

Modifying Another Word

  • very: This very gallant officer was killed a few minutes later.
  • so: Sadly, there was one lady who didn't think he was so gallant.
  • extremely: His Commanding Officer wrote that it extremely gallant of him to carry on even tho he was wounded.
  • quite: He used to walk me to Formby train station every night, he was quite gallant in that way.

Used with adjective complement

say: On their mortgage checked for things like aig says gallant.

Browse dictionary entries near gallant

  1. Galla
  2. gall wasp
  3. gall mite
  4. gall
  5. galipot
  6. galiot
  7. galingale
  8. galimatias
  9. Galileo
  10. galilee
  1. gallantry
  2. Gallatin
  3. Gallaudet
  4. gallbladder
  5. Galle
  6. galleass
  7. gallein
  8. galleon
  9. galleria
  10. galleried