cavalier

American  

[kav-uh-leer, kav-uh-leer] / ˌkæv əˈlɪər, ˈkæv əˌlɪər /

noun

1. a horseman, especially a mounted soldier; knight.

2. one having the spirit or bearing of a knight; a courtly gentleman; gallant.

3. a man escorting a woman or acting as her partner in dancing.

4. (initial capital letter) an adherent of Charles I of England in his contest with Parliament.

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adjective

1. haughty, disdainful, or supercilious.

   an arrogant and cavalier attitude toward others.

   Synonyms:

   condescending, thoughtless, uncaring, offhand, indifferent

2. offhand or unceremonious.

   The very dignified officials were confused by his cavalier manner.

3. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the Cavaliers.

4. (initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of the Cavalier poets or their work.

verb (used without object)

1. to play the cavalier.

2. to be haughty or domineering.

cavalier ¹ British  

/ ˌkævəˈlɪə /

adjective

1. showing haughty disregard; offhand

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noun

1. a gallant or courtly gentleman, esp one acting as a lady's escort

2. archaic a horseman, esp one who is armed

Cavalier ² British  

/ ˌkævəˈlɪə /

noun

1. a supporter of Charles I during the English Civil War Compare Roundhead

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Other Word Forms

• cavalierism noun
• cavalierly adverb
• cavalierness noun
• uncavalier adjective
• uncavalierly adverb

Etymology

Origin of cavalier

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French: “horseman, knight,” from Old Italian cavaliere, from Old Provençal, from Late Latin caballārius “man on horseback,” equivalent to Latin caball(us) “horse” ( capercaillie ) + -ārius -ary

Related Words

• condescending
• curt
• disdainful
• haughty
• offhand
• supercilious