gallant English · revision 1351

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɡælənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|galaunt]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|fro|galant|t=courteous; lively, bold]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) the present participle of ''galer'' “to make merry, rejoice”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) which is of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is perhaps of Germanic origin, from [[frk|*wala|t=good, well]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) and related to [[gala]].^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, a dissolute man or rake (1388).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) As an adjective, showy or finely dressed (about 1420).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective first described fine clothes and a showy appearance,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) then splendour in general, as of a stately ship.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) The sense of chivalrous bravery is from 1596.^(OED 1989) The sense of being politely attentive to women was adopted from French in the early 17th century,^(Etymonline) and the attempt to distinguish it by stressing the second syllable is an 18th-century artifice.^(Etymonline) In British parliamentary language ''gallant'' became the conventional epithet of a military officer (1875).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1388 – noun, a dissolute man.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * about 1420 – showy, finely dressed.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1448 – noun, a man of fashion.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1595 – ''gallantry'', fine appearance.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1596 – chivalrously brave.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 17th century – attentive to women.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1672 – verb, to court a woman.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Brave and spirited; [[valiant]] or nobly resolute.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Courteously attentive, especially to women; [[chivalrous]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Stately or grand.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Smartly or showily dressed; dashing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Amorous or flirtatious.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A fashionable young man.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A man attentive to women; a [[suitor]] or [[paramour]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To court a woman or act as her escort.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gallantly]]

+ * [[gallantry]]

+ * [[ungallant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gallivant]]

+ * [[gala]]

+ * [[topgallant]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''valorous'', ''courageous'', ''heroic'', ''bold'', ''daring'' and ''intrepid'' as synonyms of the first sense and refers to ''brave'' for a discussion.^(RHWU) Merriam-Webster notes that the sense “attentive to women” is usually stressed on the second syllable and the others on the first.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}