I. ˈvalyənt adjective
Etymology: Middle English valiaunt, from Middle French vaillant, from Old French, from present participle of valoir to be strong, be worth, from Latin valēre — more at wield
1. obsolete : firm , strong , robust
2. : possessing or acting with bravery or boldness : courageous , intrepid , stouthearted
valiant he was, cunning and skilled in war — Charles Kingsley
a valiant and energetic lot whose legends described their long migration — Marjory S. Douglas
was … an ardent lover of mankind and a passionate and valiant idealist — J.H.Holmes
— sometimes used ironically
became this chieftain's guest, crony, and valiant drinking companion — Alan Devoe
was as valiant a trencherman — B.A.Williams
3. : marked by, exhibiting, or carried out with courage, persistence, or determination : heroic
had a valiant war record — F.C.Brady
is prepared to make a valiant fight — Douglas Cater
made a valiant effort to relieve the distress of the people — Hallie Farmer
against all these … forces the critic and the historian must make a valiant struggle — L.P.Smith
— sometimes used ironically
his contribution had been a valiant plan to send a thousand men to die gloriously in a futile attack — Leslie Rees
4. : possessing merit or worth : excellent , noteworthy
wrote two most valiant and revelatory works of realism — Sinclair Lewis
the six-volume series began … with his valiant and lovely impressions of childhood — Brooks Atkinson
Synonyms: see brave
II. noun
( -s )
: a valiant person
the first white comers … were two valiants of Cortez's band — Julian Dana