valiant
/ˈvæliənt/ adjective, noun
Forms valiants valiaunt
- adjective Possessing or showing courage or determination; brave, heroic. “A valiant man’s look is more than a coward’s sword.”
- adjective Characterized by or done with bravery or valour. “another valiant attempt at rescue”
- noun (obsolete) A person who acts with valour, showing hero-like characteristics in the midst of danger.
Synonyms
bold valorous adventurous mettlesome aweless bad brass-balled chivalrous courageous daredevil daring dauntless doughty fearless fortitudinous gallant gutsy heroic intrepid lionhearted
Antonyms
backboneless base soft bitch-ass boneless caitiff candy-assed chicken chicken-hearted chicken-livered chickenshit courageless
Etymology
From Middle English vailaunt (“having or showing courage or valour, valiant; characterized by valour; powerful, strong; person of valour or strength; excellent, worthy; beneficial, useful; valuable; legally valid, binding”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman vaillaunt, vaylant [and other forms], and Old French vailant, vaillant (“brave, valiant; having value, valuable”) [and other forms], from the present participle of valoir (“to have value; to be worth”), from Latin valēre (“to have value; to be worth; to be strong; to have influence or power”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (“powerful, strong; to rule”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a valiant fencer. [Obs.]
- adjective Intrepid in danger; courageous; brave.
Etymology [OE. valiant, F. vaillant, OF. vaillant, valant, originally p. pr. of OF. & F. valoir to be worth, L. valere to be strong. See Wield, and cf. Avail, Convalesce, Equivalent, Prevail, Valid.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “valiant”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details