gallant
gallant Lexical Profile
gallant Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Brave,spirited, and honorable, especially in the face of danger or difficulty.
"The rescue team made a gallant effort to reach the stranded climbers before nightfall."
Giving polite, chivalrous attention and respect, especially from a man toward women.
"With a gallant bow, the host offered his arm to escort the guest of honor into the dining hall."
Grand, stately, or impressive in appearance.
"The tall ship made a gallant sight as its full sails caught the morning breeze in the harbor."
• noun
A fashionable, dashing young man who is notably polite and attentive to women; a suitor or ladies' man.
"In the Restoration comedy, the young gallant spends the entire second act composing sonnets for the heroine."
• verb
To go about in search of pleasure or amusement, or to escort and flirt chivalrously with someone (archaic or literary).
"The novel's carefree protagonists spent their summer gallanting across the European countryside."
Word Nuance & Usage
When meaning 'brave' or 'noble', the stress is placed on the first syllable (GAL-uhnt); when used in the sense of being 'chivalrously attentive to women' or as a noun for a suitor, the stress is sometimes placed on the second syllable (guh-LANT).
• Rhymes for gallant
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 14th century from Old French 'galant', the present participle of 'galer' ('to make merry, rejoice, or show off'), which likely derived from Frankish.