different between valorous vs plucky

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

pluck (“nerve, persistence”) +? -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pl?ki/
• Rhymes: -?ki

Adjective

plucky (comparative pluckier, superlative pluckiest)

1. (informal) Having or showing pluck, courage or spirit in trying circumstances.

   Synonyms: brave, spunky, feisty

Derived terms

• pluckily
• pluckiness

Translations

Further reading

• “plucky”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.