Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Gallant
Gal′lant
(găl′lant)
, Adj.
[F.
gallant
, prop. p. pr.
of OF. galer
to rejoice, akin to OF. gale
amusement, It. gala
ornament; of German origin; cf. OHG. geil
merry, luxuriant, wanton, G. geil
lascivious, akin to AS. gāl
wanton, wicked, OS. gēl
merry, Goth. gailjan
to make to rejoice, or perh. akin to E. weal
. See Gala
, Galloon
.] 1.
Showy; splendid; magnificent; gay; well-dressed.
The town is built in a very
gallant
place. Evelyn.
Our royal, good and
gallant
ship. Shakespeare
2.
Noble in bearing or spirit; brave; high-spirited; courageous; heroic; magnanimous;
as, a
gallant
youth; a gallant
officer.That
gallant
spirit hath aspired the clouds. Shakespeare
Courageous is generic, denoting an inward spirit which rises above fear; brave is more outward, marking a spirit which braves or defies danger; gallant rises still higher, denoting bravery on extraordinary occasions in a spirit of adventure. A courageous man is ready for battle; a brave man courts it; a gallant man dashes into the midst of the conflict.
Gal-lant′
(?; 277)
, Adj.
Polite and attentive to ladies; courteous to women; chivalrous.
Gal-lant′
(?; 277)
, Noun.
1.
A man of mettle or spirit; a gay, fashionable man; a young blood.
Shak.
2.
One fond of paying attention to ladies.
3.
One who wooes; a lover; a suitor; in a bad sense, a seducer.
Addison.
☞ In the first sense it is by some orthoëpists (as in Shakespeare) accented on the first syllable.
Gal-lant′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Gallanted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Gallanting
.] 1.
To attend or wait on, as a lady;
as, to
. gallant
ladies to the play2.
To handle with grace or in a modish manner;
as, to
. gallant
a fan[Obs.]
Addison.
Webster 1828 Edition
Gallant
GAL'LANT
,Adj.
1.
Gay; well dressed; showy; splendid; magnificent. Neither shall gallant ships pass thereby. Is.33.
The gay, the wise, the gallant, and the grave.
[This sense is obsolete.]
2.
Brave; high-spirited; courageous; heroic; magnanimous; as a gallant youth; a gallant officer.3.
Fine; noble.4.
Courtly; civil; polite and attentive to ladies; courteous.