Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A paragon of chivalry; a heroic champion.
- noun A strong supporter or defender of a cause.
- noun Any of the 12 peers of Charlemagne's court.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In the cycle of romances of Charlemagne, one of the knightly champions who accompanied that monarch to war; hence, by extension, a knight errant; a heroic champion.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A knight-errant; a distinguished champion.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
heroic champion (especially a knightly one). - noun A defender or
advocate of anoble cause. (A defender of faith). - noun Any of the twelve Companions of the court of Emperor Charlemagne.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun someone who fights for a cause
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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My paladin is level 71, so also a candidate to hang out with Crossfire, but I don't want to go Retribution.
WoW and Crossfire nathreee 2008
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And I think I've discovered that blood elf/paladin is my very favorite flavor combination so far.
Now we're all sons of bitches. sovay 2008
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Suraa, Spooky's blood elf paladin, is now at Level 44, because I haven't been playing quite as much, and so she's gotten a little ahead.
Entry #2,000 greygirlbeast 2008
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Said paladin is only absent a few moments before returning to the bar and his suspiciously empty cider, which the bartender quickly refills without comment.
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I've been seventy years an admired hero, the Hector of Afghanistan, the chap who led the Light Brigade, daredevil survivor of countless stricken fields, honoured by Queen and Country, V.C. and Medal of Honour - folk simply don't want to know that such a paladin was a rotter and bully in childhood, and if he was, they don't care.
THE NUMBERS 2010
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I've been seventy years an admired hero, the Hector of Afghanistan, the chap who led the Light Brigade, daredevil survivor of countless stricken fields, honoured by Queen and Country, V.C. and Medal of Honour - folk simply don't want to know that such a paladin was a rotter and bully in childhood, and if he was, they don't care.
Flashman and the angel of the lord Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1995
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I've been seventy years an admired hero, the Hector of Afghanistan, the chap who led the Light Brigade, daredevil survivor of countless stricken fields, honoured by Queen and Country, V.C. and Medal of Honour - folk simply don't want to know that such a paladin was a rotter and bully in childhood, and if he was, they don't care.
Flashman and the angel of the lord Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1995
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He plucked away the face-cloth, and uncovered the awful visage left to him, almost lipless, one cheek shrunken away, the nostrils eaten into great, discoloured holes, a face in which only the live and brilliant eyes recalled the paladin of Jerusalem and Ascalon.
The Leper of Saint Giles Peters, Ellis, 1913- 1981
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He plucked away the face-cloth, and uncovered the awful visage left to him, almost lipless, one cheek shrunken away, the nostrils eaten into great, discoloured holes, a face in which only the live and brilliant eyes recalled the paladin of Jerusalem and Ascalon.
The Leper of Saint Giles Peters, Ellis, 1913- 1981
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The holy sword paladin spell can only be cast on melee weapons, though.
D / RPG News Quantum 2010
jeffazi commented on the word paladin
champion: someone who fights for a cause.
October 31, 2007
cathari commented on the word paladin
Doesn't it usually have connotations of religion, or have I just been infused with too much Dungeons & Dragons?
November 1, 2007
seanahan commented on the word paladin
Paladin means imperial guard, but specifically refers to one of Charlemagne's guard, and since he was the Holy Roman Emperor, I can see how the connotation could be applied.
November 1, 2007
cathari commented on the word paladin
Oh, haha. So much for D&D.
I have to admit I have a strong attachment to the phrase due to a (different, actually) game I played when I was younger. It was used in that game to signify a knight serving Light, and specifically one who had undergone trials that he couldn't pass if he wasn't of the right type; so being a Paladin, having passed this test that no one had ever passed before, said a lot about his inner character (which was also borne out by his actions, of course-- but because he was a Paladin and because of what this meant, one knew that those actions were really true to what was inside him, that he really was like that through and through... it was just a lovely and fascinating thought, to me.)
November 1, 2007
skipvia commented on the word paladin
I don't suppose anyone remembers the TV show "Have Gun--Will Travel," with the gentlemanly champion-for-hire Paladin (no other name was ever given) and his trademark knight chess piece?
November 1, 2007
seanahan commented on the word paladin
I've heard of it, but it was well before my time.
November 1, 2007
skipvia commented on the word paladin
Pre-1960. I've very old...
November 1, 2007
oroboros commented on the word paladin
"Have Gun, Will Travel"!! Yeowsuh boss!
November 1, 2007
skipvia commented on the word paladin
Great show, eh Oro? I'd love to see that again sometime. (Or maybe it's just better remembered...)
November 1, 2007
reesetee commented on the word paladin
Ooh! I vaguely remember that show!
November 1, 2007
sionnach commented on the word paladin
We had "Have Gun wii Travel" in Ireland, but I preferred "Bat Masterson".
Yes. I am ancient. I am out of Ireland and I am ancient. Or, as Washington Irving would surely describe it, "stricken in years".
November 1, 2007
reesetee commented on the word paladin
Hey, your brain is still firing madly, and that's the important part. :-)
November 1, 2007
madmouth commented on the word paladin
All her harvest buttoned in
All her ornaments untried
Waiting for the paladin
Prosperous and ocean-eyed
Who shall rub her secrets out
And behold the hinted bride
-from "The Anniad"
November 25, 2009