valiant

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, the present active infinitive of valeō (“to have value; to be worth; to be strong; to have influence or power”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (“powerful, strong; to rule”).

adj

1. Possessing or showing courage or determination; brave, heroic.
   A valiant man’s look is more than a coward’s sword.
   For by readyng of hiſtories fyrſte we know how longe time mightie empyres, great kyngedomes, famous common weales and citees haue floriſhed: how many yeres noble prynces, valiant capitaynes, and wyſe gouernours haue reigned: in what age they were, which was before other, and how farre diſtante in tyme one from an other. 1560, Thomas Cooper, “To the Ryght Honorable Lorde Russell Erle of Bedforde, and One of the Queenes Maiesties Moste Honorable Counsell: Thomas Cooper Wisheth Longe Continuance of Prosperous Life and Muche Honour.”, in Coopers Chronicle, Conteininge the Whole Discourse of the Histories as well of This Realme, as All Other Countreis,[…], new edition, London: […] [in the house late Thomas Berthelettes], →OCLC
   But admit that good Men are begotten of good Parents, and valiant Men of valiant Fathers; and if this be to Mankind proper, why are not good and valiant Children begotten of good and valiant common Perſons also? for they are Men as well as the other. But nothing is more deceitful than this Rule; for through the Corruption of Man's Nature we ſee it often happens, a prodigal Son to be born of a frugal Father, a Fool of a wiſe Man, and a Coward of a courageous Man. 1718, [Maurice Shelton or John Randall], “Of the First Roman Nobility”, in An Historical and Critical Essay on the True Rise of Nobility, Political and Civil;[…], London: […] C[harles] Rivington[…], →OCLC, page 51
2. Characterized by or done with bravery or valour.

noun

1. (obsolete) A person who acts with valour, showing hero-like characteristics in the midst of danger.
   O yee Angells, yee Champions and valiants of the court of heauen, and ſtout ſoldiers of Chriſt your King, who euerie one ſingle is able to encounter and to defeat the greateſt armie that euer was ſeene on earth, where are you? 1639, “Ch. M.” [pseudonym; Matthew Kellison], “The Tenth Flovver of the Myrrhine Posie: Christ Crvcified: Or His Sufferances on the Crosse.[…]”, in A Myrrhine Posie of the Bitter Dolovrs of Christ: His Passion, and of the Seaven VVords He Spake on the Crosse, Doway [i.e., Douai, France]: […] L. Kellam, →OCLC, page 123
   The valiant profit more Their country, than the fineſt clevereſt ſpeakers. Valour once known, will ſoon find eloquence To trumpet forth her praiſe— … 1772, Plautus, “The Churl”, in Richard Warner], transl., Comedies of Plautus, Translated into Familiar Blank Verse,[…], volume IV, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. de Hondt,[…], →OCLC, act II, scene ii, lines 19–22, page 228