- cav´a|lier´ness
- cav|a|lier «KAV uh LIHR», noun, adjective, verb.),–n.1. a horseman, mounted soldier, or knight: »
The cavaliers with sabers drawn charged their horses into the attacking army.
2. a) a courteous gentleman; gallant: »I saw the bud-crowned Spring go forth…to greet staid ancient cavaliers (Emerson).
b) a courteous escort for a lady.–adj.1. careless in manner; free and easy; offhand: »He did not take me seriously and gave a gay, cavalier reply. Very cavalier, indeed, to go out to walk, without waiting to see us (Maria Edgeworth).
2. proud and scornful; haughty; arrogant: »People were often irritated by his cavalier attitude toward them. This cavalier tone from an unknown person…did not please me (Thomas Carlyle).
SYNONYM(S): supercilious, disdainful.–v.i.1. to play the cavalier: »I must fly from the University forsooth to run a cavaliering (Thomas Shadwell).
2. to be haughty or domineering: »cavaliering it here over half a dozen persons of distinction (Samuel Richardson).
–v.t.to act as escort or cavalier to (a lady): »from his cavaliering the ladies Percy and Mortimer (C. Cowden Clarke).
╂[< Middle French cavalier < Italian cavaliere knight; horseman < Late Latin cabalārius < Latin caballus a nag. See etym. of doublets caballero (Cf. ↑caballero), chevalier. (Cf. ↑chevalier)]–cav´a|lier´ness, noun.Cav|a|lier «KAV uh LIHR», noun, adjective.in English history:–n.a person who supported Charles I in his struggle with Parliament from 1640 to 1649; Royalist.–adj.of the Cavaliers; Royalist.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
