valorous, a.
(ˈvælərəs)
Forms: α. 5 vaillerous, 6 Sc. valereus, 7 valerous, vallarous. β. 5– valorous, 7 Sc. val'rows, 8 val'rous. γ. 6–9 valourous.
[ad. OF. (also mod.F.) valeureux, f. valeur valour, or med.L. valorosus valiant, valuable, f. valor valor. Cf. It. valoroso, Sp. and Pg. valeroso.]
1. Of persons: Endowed with valour; valiant, courageous; brave, bold.
| α c 1477 Caxton Jason 12 She seeing that he was..a yong gentilman..hauying a chiere of a vaillerous man receyued him into her wages as souldyour. 1600 Hamilton in Cath. Tract. (S.T.S.) 221 Al the noble successeurs of this Godlie and valereus king. 1680 Debates in Parl. (1681) 174 A King on their side, endowed with a vallarous Spirit. |
| Comb. 1642–4 Vicars God in Mount (1844) 56 This piously valerous-hearted Gentleman. |
| β 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. III. 22/1 In which voiage his valorous hart at all assaies..was most manifestlie perceiued. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 236 Thou art as valorous as Hector of Troy. 1627 Lisander & Cal. i. 1 Henry, the valorous Father of our invincible Monarch. 1727 Swift On cutting down the thorn at Market Hill Wks. 1755 IV. i. 88 Sir Archibald, that val'rous knight. 1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. iii. vii. 418 William invaded Scotland..with design, perhaps, to chastise, rather than subdue, a valorous people. 1879 Sat. Rev. 13 Sept. 324 As the valorous Swiss were some twenty in number the position of the travellers was hopeless. |
| Comb. 1601 Weever Mirr. Mart. D vii, They answered me I was too valorous bold. |
| γ 1600 Holland Livy xxiv. xlvi. 541 Certaine Tribunes and marshals, valourous and doubtie good men. 1647 F. Bland Souldiers March 39 A token of a minde truly noble and valorous. 1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. ii. ii. 244 The Valourous Arthur of history, or the redoubtable Arthur of romance. 1841 James Brigand xxxiii, I am about..to give you as a bride to this valourous prince. |
2. Of actions, etc.: Marked or characterized by valour, courage, or bravery.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos Prol. 10 This present booke,..in whiche may alle valyaunt prynces and other nobles see many valorous fayttes of armes. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. x. 18 [She] gathering force, and courage valorous, Encountred him in battell well ordaind. 1612 North's Plutarch, Epaminondas 1125 Not able any longer to defend themselues against the valorous force of himselfe and his followers. a 1660 Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.) I. 174 The enemie..rather wonderinge at his valerous charge, then any way able to oppose it. 1813 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1838) X. 532 note, The whole universe will acknowledge those valorous efforts. 1869 H. F. Tozer Highl. Turkey II. 209 Two tall peaks.., far famed for valorous deeds..of the Suliotes. |
† 3. Having value, worth, or merit; valuable.
| 1592 G. Harvey Four Lett. iii. 19 The Hexameter verse..whereof neither Homer in Greeke, nor Virgill in Latine, (how valorous Autors!)..were ashamed. 1609 J. Davies (Heref.) Humours Heaven ii. lxxxvi, Be their value ne'r so valorous Its held but base and made by nature sleight. |
Hence
ˈvalorousness.
| 1727 Bailey, Valorousness, Valiantness, Stoutness, Bravery. 1920 G. Santayana Character & Opinion in U.S.A. vii. 214 Their valorousness and morality consist in their indomitable egotism. 1922 E. R. Eddison Worm xxvii. 346 The Demons..by their strength and valorousness set free the Lord Goldry Bluszco. |