First Known Use: 1589
Dictionary
1cavalier
noun cav·a·lier \ˌka-və-ˈlir\
Definition of CAVALIER
1
: a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship
2
: a mounted soldier : knight
3
capitalized : an adherent of Charles I of England
4
: gallant
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Origin of CAVALIER
Middle French, from Old Italian cavaliere, from Old Occitan cavalier, from Late Latin caballarius horseman, from Latin caballus
Related to CAVALIER
- Synonyms
- gentleman
Rhymes with CAVALIER
Agadir, atmosphere, auctioneer, balladeer, bandolier, bathysphere, bayadere, Bedfordshire, Bedivere, belvedere, bend one's ear, biosphere, bombardier, boutonniere, brigadier, buccaneer, budgeteer, Cambridgeshire, cameleer, cannoneer, canyoneer, cassimere, chandelier, chanticleer, chevalier, chiffonier, chocolatier, chromosphere, commandeer, corsetiere, crystal clear, cuirassier, Derbyshire, diapir, disappear, domineer, ecosphere, Elzevir, engineer, exosphere, fallow deer, fictioneer, financier, fiscal year, fourdrinier, fusilier, gadgeteer, gasolier, gazetteer, ginger beer, Gloucestershire, gondolier, grenadier, Guinevere, hemisphere, Hertfordshire, Holy Year, inner ear, insincere, interfere, in the clear, jardiniere, junketeer, kerseymere, landing gear, lavaliere, marketeer, Meyerbeer, middle ear, missileer, mountaineer, muleteer, musketeer, mutineer, on one's ear, outer ear, overhear, overseer, oversteer, Oxfordshire, pamphleteer, persevere, photosphere, pioneer, pistoleer, privateer, profiteer, puppeteer, racketeer, rocketeer, running gear, scrutineer, sloganeer, sonneteer, souvenir, Staffordshire, steering gear, stratosphere, summiteer, swimmer's ear, thermosphere, troposphere, Tyne and Wear, understeer, vintage year, Vladimir, volunteer, Warwickshire, Windermere, yesteryear
2cavalier
adjective
: having or showing no concern for something that is important or serious
Full Definition of CAVALIER
1
: debonair
2
: marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful dismissal of important matters <a cavalier attitude toward money>
3
a capitalized : of or relating to the party of Charles I of England in his struggles with the Puritans and Parliament b : aristocratic c capitalized : of or relating to the English Cavalier poets of the mid-17th century
— ca·va·lier·ism \-ˌi-zəm\ noun
— cav·a·lier·ly adverb
See cavalier defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CAVALIER
circa 1641
Related to CAVALIER
- Synonyms
- assumptive, bumptious, arrogant, chesty, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, huffish, huffy, imperious, important, lofty, lordly, masterful, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, sniffy, stiff-necked, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity
- Antonyms
- humble, lowly, modest, unarrogant, unpretentious
CAVALIER Defined for Kids
1cavalier
noun cav·a·lier \ˌka-və-ˈlir\
Definition of CAVALIER for Kids
1
: a mounted soldier
2
: a brave and courteous gentleman
2cavalier
adjective
Definition of CAVALIER for Kids
1
: easy and lighthearted in manner
2
: having or showing no concern for a serious or important matter <He has a cavalier attitude about money.>
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