Antonyms for cavaliers

Grammar : Noun

Spell : kav-uh-leer, kav-uh-leer

Phonetic Transcription : ˌkæv əˈlɪər, ˈkæv əˌlɪər

Definition of cavaliers

Origin : 1580s, from Italian cavalliere "mounted soldier, knight; gentleman serving as a lady's escort," from Late Latin caballarius "horseman," from Vulgar Latin caballus, the common Vulgar Latin word for "horse" (and source of Italian cavallo, French cheval, Spanish caballo, Irish capall, Welsh ceffyl), displacing Latin equus (see equine).
Sense advanced in 17c. to "knight," then "courtly gentleman" (but also, pejoratively, "swaggerer"), which led to the adjectival senses, especially "disdainful" (1650s). Meaning "Royalist adherent of Charles I" is from 1641. Meaning "one who devotes himself solely to attendance on a lady" is from 1817, roughly translating Italian cavaliere-servente. In classical Latin caballus was "work horse, pack horse," sometimes, disdainfully, "hack, nag." "Not a native Lat. word (as the second -a- would show), though the source of the borrowing is uncertain" [Tucker]. Perhaps from some Balkan or Anatolian language, and meaning, originally, "gelding." The same source is thought to have yielded Old Church Slavonic kobyla.

As in suitor : noun person who desires another
As in beau : noun boyfriend
As in gentleman : noun a courteous and honorable man
As in caballero : noun spanish knight
As in chevalier : noun gentleman
As in knight : noun noble person
As in swain : noun beau
As in escort : noun protection; accompaniment

Example sentences :

It is well that cavaliers of fortune should show that an engagement is with them—how do ye say it?
Extract from : « Micah Clarke » by Arthur Conan Doyle

We arrived at the hollow; the ladies left their cavaliers, but she did not let go my arm.
Extract from : « A Hero of Our Time » by M. Y. Lermontov

Her mother was a long way off, and not one of the cavaliers of her acquaintance was near.
Extract from : « A Hero of Our Time » by M. Y. Lermontov

Attahuallapa was informed of the approach of the Spanish cavaliers.
Extract from : « Ferdinand De Soto, The Discoverer of the Mississippi » by John S. C. Abbott

Thou shalt be the proudest and most envied of cavaliers; thou shalt be my lover!
Extract from : « Clarimonde » by Thophile Gautier

Well, which of you is inclined to follow the German cavaliers' example?
Extract from : « Debts of Honor » by Maurus Jkai

The two cavaliers and their escort found the Inca in the midst of his camp.
Extract from : « South American Fights and Fighters » by Cyrus Townsend Brady

As to the few other cavaliers, very willing were they to have it so.
Extract from : « Bonaventure » by George Washington Cable

The sons of the Cavaliers spring to the side of the sons of the Pilgrims.
Extract from : « America First » by Various

The cavaliers again set the example by plunging into the water.
Extract from : « Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 8 » by Charles H. Sylvester

Synonyms for cavaliers

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019