Valentine Comes From The Word Valour
What does the word “valour” have to do with love?

Interesting Facts in Easy English
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- valour: worthiness; bravery
- jailer: the manager or owner of a prison
- execute: kill
- outlaw: to disallow
- sainted: to be named an official saint
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Valentine Comes From The Word Valour
Comprehension Questions
- What does the word “valour” mean?
- Why does the report mention American English?
- What change happened to the girl according to the first legend?
Discussion Questions: What do the legends above have in common? How do they differ?
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Valentine Comes From The Word Valour
The word “Valentine” comes from the word “valour” meaning worthiness or bravery. In American English, this word is spelled without a “u” (valor). According to one legend, St. Valentine was a Christian priest who was arrested for not worshiping the Roman gods. While he was in prison, he fell in love with a blind girl who was also the jailer’s daughter. The priest helped the girl pray for her sight to be restored, and eventually she could see. Before the prisoner was executed (on 14 February), he wrote his girlfriend a love note, and signed it Your Valentine. Another legend suggests that St. Valentine was a priest who married couples secretly after marriage was outlawed by Emperor Claudius. In both cases, the priest was sainted in the name of valour.
- The word “valour” means worthiness or bravery.
- The report mentions American English because the word valour is spelled differently in the US than in other English-speaking countries.
- According to the first legend, the girl’s blindness was cured after she prayed with St. Valentine.