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Gallant vs Polite - What's the difference?

gallant | polite | Related terms |

Gallant is a related term of polite.


In obsolete|transitive|lang=en terms the difference between gallant and polite

is that gallant is (obsolete|transitive) to handle with grace or in a modish manner while polite is (obsolete|transitive) to polish; to refine; to render polite.

As adjectives the difference between gallant and polite

is that gallant is brave, valiant or gallant can be polite and attentive to ladies; courteous to women; chivalrous while polite is well-mannered, civilized.

As verbs the difference between gallant and polite

is that gallant is (obsolete|transitive) to attend or wait on (a lady) while polite is (obsolete|transitive) to polish; to refine; to render polite.

As a noun gallant

is (dated) fashionable young man, who is polite and attentive to women.

gallant

English

Alternative forms

* gallaunt (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Brave, valiant.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds.
  • Honorable.
  • *
    • Captain Edward Carlisle; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.
  • Grand, noble.
  • (lb) Showy; splendid; magnificent; gay; well-dressed.
  • * (John Evelyn) (1620-1706)
    • The town is built in a very gallant place.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • our royal, good and gallant ship
    Related terms
    * gallantly * gallantry

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Polite and attentive to ladies; courteous to women; chivalrous.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (dated) Fashionable young man, who is polite and attentive to women.
  • * 1610 , , act 1 scene 2
    • PROSPERO: [...] this gallant which thou see'st / Was in the wrack; and but he's something stain'd /with grief,—that beauty's canker,—thou mightst call him / A goodly person [...]
  • One who woos, a lover, a suitor, a seducer.
  • * 1819 , , Otho the Great , Act III, Scene II, verses 140-143
    • The ignominy of that whisper’d tale
    About a midnight gallant , seen to climb
    A window to her chamber neighbour’d near,
    I will from her turn off,
  • An animal or thing of grey colour, such as a horse, badger, or salmon.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day, / That costs thy life, my gallant grey .
  • (nautical) topgallant

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To attend or wait on (a lady).
    • to gallant ladies to the play
  • (obsolete) To handle with grace or in a modish manner.
    • to gallant a fan

    References

    * English heteronyms ----

    polite

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Well-mannered, civilized.
  • * (Alexander Pope)
    • He marries, bows at court, and grows polite .
  • * , chapter=4
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite .}}
  • (obsolete) Smooth, polished, burnished.
  • * (Isaac Newton)
    • rays of light falling on a polite surface

    Usage notes

    * The one-word comparative form (politer) and superlative form (politest) exist, but are less common than their two-word counterparts (term) and (term).

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * impolite * rude

    Derived terms

    * over-polite * politeness * polite society

    Related terms

    * polish

    Verb

    (polit)
  • (obsolete) To polish; to refine; to render polite.
    • (Ray)

    References

    *

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----