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Synonyms

gallant

1 American  
[gal-uhnt, guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt, guh-lant, -lahnt, gal-uhnt, guh-lant, -lahnt] / ˈgæl ənt, gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt, ˈgæl ənt, gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt, ˈgæl ənt, gəˈlænt, -ˈlɑnt /

adjective

  1. brave, spirited, noble-minded, or chivalrous.

    a gallant knight; a gallant rescue attempt.
    Synonyms:
    intrepid, daring, bold, heroic, courageous, valorous

  2. exceptionally polite and attentive to others, especially to women; courtly.

    Synonyms:
    courteous, chivalrous

  3. stately; grand.

    a gallant pageant.

  4. showy, colorful, or stylish, as in dress; magnificent.

  5. amorous; amatory.

noun

  1. a brave, noble-minded, or chivalrous man.

  2. a man exceptionally attentive to women.

  3. a stylish and dashing man.

  4. a suitor or lover.

  5. a paramour.

verb (used with object)

  1. to court or act as a lover of (a woman).

  2. to escort (a woman).

verb (used without object)

  1. to attend or pay court as a gallant.

Gallant 2 American  
[gal-uhnt] / ˈgæl ənt /

noun

  1. Mavis, 1922–2014, Canadian short-story writer.

gallant British  

adjective

  1. brave and high-spirited; courageous and honourable; dashing

    a gallant warrior

  2. (of a man) attentive to women; chivalrous

  3. imposing; dignified; stately

    a gallant ship

  4. archaic showy in dress

"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

noun

  1. a woman's lover or suitor

  2. a dashing or fashionable young man, esp one who pursues women

  3. a brave, high-spirited, or adventurous man

"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

verb

  1. to court or flirt (with)

  2. (tr) to attend or escort (a woman)

"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

Related Words

See brave.

Other Word Forms

  • gallantly adverb
  • gallantness noun
  • quasi-gallant adjective
  • supergallant adjective
  • supergallantness noun
  • ungallant adjective

Etymology

Origin of gallant

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gala(u)nt, from Old French galant, present participle of galer “to amuse oneself, make merry,” from unattested Gallo-Romance walāre, derivative of unattested Frankish wala “good, happy”; well 1, weal 1

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.