Valiaunce

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Great courage and fearlessness in the face of danger, especially in battle, as celebrated in older English poetry
2. The quality of being valiant, meaning boldness and strength of spirit when facing peril or combat
3. An archaic term for valour, the brave and determined conduct shown by a warrior or hero in conflict

Etymology: Valiaunce is an older spelling of "valiance", the quality of being brave or valiant. The word arrived in Middle English from Anglo-Norman "vaillaunce", which was itself drawn from Old French "vaillance", a noun built on "vaillant", meaning strong, brave, or worthy. Those French forms trace back to Latin "valere", to be strong or well, which also gave English words such as "value" and "valid" through other routes. The spelling with "-aunce" reflects the French ending that Middle English writers borrowed, before the form settled into the "-ance" spelling used today. Readers who meet "valiaunce" in older texts are looking at the same word, simply written in the spelling English used at the time.

Synonyms: valor, bravery, courage, heroism

Antonyms: cowardice, timidity, fear