pursuivant

[ pur-swi-vuhnt ]

noun

1. a heraldic officer of the lowest class, ranking below a herald.
2. an official attendant on heralds.
3. any attendant or follower.

pursuivant

/ ˈpɜːsɪvənt /

noun

1. the lowest rank of heraldic officer
2. history a state or royal messenger
3. history a follower or attendant

Word History and Origins

Origin of pursuivant¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pursuivant¹

C14: from Old French, from poursivre to pursue

Example Sentences

There were traditional roles with baffling titles such as Bluemantle Pursuivant and Rouge Dragon Pursuivant and a number of men seemed to be entirely dressed in medieval flags.

From BBC

Previous coronations have had historic roles such as the "rouge dragon pursuivant", "unicorn pursuivant" and carriers of the "golden spur" and the "white wand".

From BBC

“Whether or not people saw them in everyday life, lions were popular in heraldry for the qualities which they could be used to represent,” wrote Mark Scott, whose title is the Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms.

From Washington Post

One example is the character Lucas de Beaumanoir in Sir Walter Scott’s novel “Ivanhoe .” Another is the witch-smeller pursuivant in the British comedy show “Blackadder.”

From Washington Post

Pursuivant McCabe said people would never believe such “outlandish” things, anyway.

From Washington Post