valet (or as vale), valett

[Fr. valet a groom, a yeoman. The same word as VARLET (q. v.).] 1. A man-servant who attends on his master's person; a valet-de-chambre. Valets or varlets were originally the sons of knights, and afterward of the nobility, before they attained the age of chivalry. "The king made him his valett (equivalent to what afterward was called gentleman of the bedchamber.)" Fuller: Worthies; Yorkshire. IMG:content-0386.png:[blocks in formation] 4371 văl-ě-ti-din-är-I-an-Işm, s . [English valetu dinarian; -ism.] The state or condition of a valetudinarian; a weak or sickly state of health. "At an age when most men are condemned to valetudin arianism." - London Daily Telegraph. văl-ě-tū-din-ar-i-ne , subst . [Eng. valetu dinary; -ne .] The quality or state of being valetudinary; valetudinarianism. "Habitual thinne , leanne , tenderne , and valetu dinar in e ."-Cheyne: Method of Cure, pt. ii., ch. iv. *văl-ě-tū-din-är-i-ous, a. [Eng. valetudinary ; -õus .] Valetudinary (q. v.). "About the beginning of January he began to be very valetudinarious." -Cotton Mather : Memorable Providences (ed. 1689), p. 55.