a. 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 valor; valiant, courageous; brave, bold.
α. c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 12. She seeing that he was … a yong gentilman … hauyng 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. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 236. Thou art as valorous as Hector of Troy.
1627. Lisander & Cal., I. I 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 valourous.
1807. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, I. II. ii. 244. The Valourous Arthur of history, or the redoubtable Arthur of romance.
1841. G. P. R. James, Brigand, xxxiii. I am about … to give you as a bride to this valourous prince.
2. Of actions, etc.: Marked or characterized by valor, 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. 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 Valorousness. rare–0.
1727. Bailey, Valorousness, Valiantness, Stoutness, Bravery.
