different between valorous vs audacious

English

Alternative forms

• valourous

Etymology

From Old French valeureux.

Adjective

valorous (comparative more valorous, superlative most valorous)

1. Having or displaying valour.
   • c. 1490, William Caxton (translator), The Boke of Eneydos, Westminster, Preface,^[1]

     this present booke compyled by virgyle ryght subtyl and Ingenyous oratour & poete Intytuled Eneydos hath be translated oute of latyn in to comyn langage In whiche may alle valyaunt prynces and other nobles see many valorous fayttes of armes.

   • c. 1598, William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act IV, Scene 4,^[2]

     […] he esteems himself happy that he hath fallen into the hands of one, as he thinks, the most brave, valorous, and thrice-worthy signieur of England.

   • 1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Chapter 15,^[3]

     […] I shall be at York—at the head of my daring and valorous fellows, as ready to support any bold design as thy policy can be to form one.

   • 1929, Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms, New York: Scribner, Book I, Chapter 10, p. 70,^[4]

     He held up the glass. “To your valorous wounds. To the silver medal.”

   • 2004, Andrea Levy, Small Island, London: Review, Chapter Twelve, p. 139,^[5]

     There are many valorous stories told of her, which enthral grown men as well as children.

Synonyms

• valiant

Derived terms

• valorously

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “valorous”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Etymology

From Latin audacia (“boldness”), from audax (“bold”), from aude? (“I am bold, I dare”)

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: ô-d??sh?s IPA^(key): /???de???s/
• (US) enPR: ô-d??sh?s IPA^(key): /??de???s/
• Rhymes: -e???s

Adjective

audacious (comparative more audacious, superlative most audacious)

1. Showing willingness to take bold risks; recklessly daring.
   • 22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Games[1]

     That such a safe adaptation could come of The Hunger Games speaks more to the trilogy’s commercial ascent than the book’s actual content, which is audacious and savvy in its dark calculations.
2. Impudent, insolent.

Synonyms

• (willing to take bold risks): bold, daring, temeritous, temerarious

Antonyms

• (willing to take bold risks): shy, cautious, prudent

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• audacious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• audacious in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• audacious at OneLook Dictionary Search