What does sallied mean?
Sallied means that someone went out quickly and boldly, often with a shared purpose. The expression is particularly associated with troops leaving a defensive position to attack, with rescuers moving toward danger, or with people venturing into an undertaking that requires courage. In its past-tense and past-participle form, sallied also describes a completed movement of this kind. The word can suggest energetic determination, although its figurative uses may carry a hint of literary drama or humor. It is more formal than ordinary alternatives such as rushed, surged, or ventured, and is especially common in descriptions of military and emergency situations.
verbTo go out boldly or quickly, especially to attack an enemy or assist someone in difficulty. In the past tense or past participle, it describes such a movement.
- To go out rapidly or boldly for battle, attack, rescue, or another purpose.
- To venture or move forth with confidence or enthusiasm.
"The troops sallied out to meet the approaching enemy."
"After the alarm sounded, the crew sallied out to investigate."
"The young researcher sallied into the unfamiliar archive with renewed curiosity."
To sally forth is to leave safety with energetic resolve—sometimes for battle, sometimes simply for a dash into adventure.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sallied come from?
The word comes from the verb sally, which entered English from Old French saillir, meaning to leap or rush forth. The French word is related to Latin salire, “to leap,” the source of words such as salient and salivate. In English, sally developed the sense of a sudden expedition or sortie and later came to mean to go forth with energy or purpose.
Related word forms
How sallied is actually used
The word has a formal or literary tone and is less common in everyday speech than words such as rushed or ventured. It is especially used for soldiers, rescuers, and other groups acting together.
Easily confused with sallied
Sally is the base verb and also a noun for a sudden expedition or a group undertaking one; sallied is its past tense and past participle.