Middle English Dictionary Entry
vailaunt adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | vailaunt adj. Also vail(l)ant, vaillaunt(e, vailiant, valiaunte, valiant(e, valliaunt, waillant, (in surname) valiand & (error) vyalent; pl. vailauns, valiantes, valiant(e)z. |
| Etymology | OF vaillant, vailant, vailand, vailent, AF vaillaunt, vailliant, wallant. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Possessing or displaying valor, courage, prowess, etc., valiant; also, physically powerful, strong; also, as noun: a person of valor or might, a valiant fighter [quot. c1440]; as epithet: the ~, the strong, the brave; ~ of bodi (bon);
(b) characterized by valor, bravely performed; of blood: shed in the commission of a valorous deed.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1633 : These heraldz on him crie, ‘Vailant, vailant, lo, when he goth.’
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.9 : So wis he was in dede, of body so valiant, With dynt of suerd & drede he mad þam recreant.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.144 : Richer kyng is non in þis world bot ȝe, No valianter of bon in Cristendam als he.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.298 : Knyghtes & sergeantz, noble man fulle couth, Of prowes fulle valiantz.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3164 : Towarde Viterbe this valyant avires the reynes.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6952 : I haue a broþer, sire Constantyn [vr. Constant], God werrour & man valliaunt.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.36 : And with him sevene hundred knyhtes & seriauns That Alle worthy men weren & vaylauns.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)92/25 : Sampson forte…was most douted and most vaillaunt of all erthely creatoures.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)32/34 : I se the moste valiante knyght of the worlde, and the man of moste renowne.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)658/3 : There cam the good knyght sir Symounde the Valyaunte.
- a1475 Asneth (Hnt EL 26.A.13)736 : Hys synewes, schuldirs, & his armes were stable & vailant, Hys knes, schynys, ant his feet like to a geaunt.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1194 : Þey ben all on lyue, Vyalent [?read: Vaylent] and hardy, batayle to dryue.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)5354 : Cipriens…were good knightes, waillant & worthy.
b
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2573 : The vesere, the aventaile, his vesturis ryche, With the valyant blode was verrede all ouer.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12576 : Schame hit were þat eyþer ȝede Wiþouten bataille or vaillaunte dede.
2.
(a) Of a person: worthy, excellent [1st quot. could also be construed as sense 1.(a)];
(b) useful, beneficial; ~ ayenes, effective against (sth.);
(c) valuable, of worth.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.177 : If þat we wille take a baron of ȝour oste…Him þan wille we say, who is moste valiant…þe marchis of Mounfraunt.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)97/19 : This damesell is the moste valyaunte and fayryst that I know lyvyng, or yet that ever I coude fynde.
- a1486 Ordin.Lists in RS 55.1 (Lnsd 285)303 : For as much that…there have ben wreten noone…ordenaunces of batelx within listes armes in your tyme, ne also in thee tyme of your noble progenitours as they have ben wise, valiauntez, and rightul [F vaillants et justes]…I…youre conestable, offre unto your seide roial maieste this litill booke…that it please your benigne grace for to…amende the seide booke…with gode maner deliberacion and avisement of the moost wise, valiantes, and sufficiant lordis and knyghtes of your reame, which of dedes of armes have the most knowledge.
b
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)144.605 (v.2:p.439) : Whedyr yt be of mete, or of drynk, or of bathis, or of ony othyr lust of the body .., in alle these I desire no more than that ys vaylaunt and profitable to the helthe of body.
- c1475 3 Consid.(UC 85)180 : It is convenient…that every Prince…will observe iii profitable consideracions…eche of hem full expedient and full vailaunt for othir.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)125/30 : Oryson is moch vaylant agaynys the Malice of ennemys.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)167/38 : Al othyr vertues bene vayllaunt to tho men that ham hath.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)71/8 : Loue…demeþ itself miȝty to all þinges & all þinges to be leful to it; It is vailant þerfore to all þinges, it fulfilleþ many þinges & bringiþ hem to affecte.
c
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)592 : I graunt…to this couenant, For my lest fynger is mekil more vailiant Then a thousand worldes.
3.
Law Legally valid, binding.
Associated quotations
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.56b : Ȝif…te Eir made ȝift þe wiles þat he were bi þinne age, þanne nere þat ȝifte noȝt vaillaunt þe wile þat a miȝtte be repeled of þe Eir.
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.61b : Þulke excepcion is vaillaunt ase to þe writ of possession.
4.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1185) in Pipe R.Soc.3468 : Hugo le Vaillant.
- (1207) CRR(2) 549 : Gillebertus le Valiand.
- (1212) CRR(2) 6260 : Gillebertus Valiant.
- (1254) Close R.Hen.III243 : Jakinus de Vailaunt.
- (1265) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.250 : William le Vayllaunt.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1093 : Johe le Vaillant.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 21115 : Rogero Wayllant.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 382 : Johannes Vaillaunt.