Cav|a|lier

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.