English
valiant
Valiant comes from Anglo-Norman vaillaunt, from Latin valēre ‘to have value’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- ‘powerful, strong’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-‘powerful, strong’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvalēre‘to have value’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400vaillaunt
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500vailaunt‘having or showing courage or valour, valiant’
- Englishearliest quotation 1560valiant
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-‘powerful, strong’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvalēre‘to have value’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400vaillaunt
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500vailaunt‘having or showing courage or valour, valiant’
- Englishearliest quotation 1560valiant
Earliest quotation: 1560, Thomas Cooper, London: […] [in the house late Thomas Berthelettes]: “For by readyng of hiſtories fyrſte we know how…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- ‘powerful, strong’
wild, equivalent, wool, velvet, valid, valuation, avail, wield, fluff, vale, flannel, cuckold, vail, valour, velour, woll, lanolin, valorous, 44 more
through Latin valēre ‘to have value’
Today it means
adj Possessing or showing courage or determination; brave, heroic.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- / valiant