GALLANTRY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does gallantry mean? 

• GALLANTRY (noun)
  The noun GALLANTRY has 3 senses:

1. the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)

2. courtesy towards women

3. polite attentiveness to women

  Familiarity information: GALLANTRY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GALLANTRY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

gallantry; heroism; valiance; valiancy; valor; valorousness; valour

Context example:

he received a medal for valor

Hypernyms ("gallantry" is a kind of...):

braveness; bravery; courage; courageousness (a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Courtesy towards women

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

chivalry; gallantry; politesse

Hypernyms ("gallantry" is a kind of...):

courtesy; good manners (a courteous manner)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Polite attentiveness to women

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("gallantry" is a kind of...):

courtesy (a courteous or respectful or considerate act)

 Context examples 

The intention, however, was indubitable; and whether it was that his manners had in general so little gallantry, or however else it happened, but she thought nothing became him more.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He still retained, however, the jaunty gallantry of his speech.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But, if I know myself, said he, this is from no want of gallantry towards them.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

No thanks to his gallantry for that.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

They were loud in their praise of their foemen’s gallantry, and precise in their reasons for his defeat.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I could not but see that Mr. Crawford allowed himself in gallantries which did mean nothing.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

It was not in the power of all his gallantry to detain her longer.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Horner and Smoke had been displaying a gallantry toward Maud Brewster, ludicrous in itself and inoffensive to her, but to him evidently distasteful.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

His manly beauty and more than common gracefulness were instantly the theme of general admiration, and the laugh which his gallantry raised against Marianne received particular spirit from his exterior attractions.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

When a moment later I saw your eyes wander away from the picture, I suspected that your mind had now turned to the Civil War, and when I observed that your lips set, your eyes sparkled, and your hands clenched I was positive that you were indeed thinking of the gallantry which was shown by both sides in that desperate struggle.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)