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stal·wart

(stôlwərt)

adj.

1. Loyal and resolute: a stalwart ally; stalwart support.

2. Strong and imposing: a stalwart oak tree.

One who steadfastly supports an organization or cause: party stalwarts.

[Middle English, alteration of stalworth, from Old English stǣlwierthe, serviceable, probably alteration of *statholwierthe, steadfast : stathol, foundation; see STADDLE + weorth, valuable; see wer-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

stalwart·ly adv.

stalwart·ness n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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