The author is contrasting two ideas

"Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once."
From the above context, you can tell that the author is contrasting two ideas-"cowards" and "the valiant."
Therefore, "the valiant" means the opposite of "cowards," namely "brave people." Valiant means "brave."
Source: Vocabulary for the High School Student by Robert T. Levine


idea /a?'d??/ n

• any content of the mind, esp the conscious mind
• the thought of something: the very idea appals me
• an individual's conception of something: his idea of honesty is not the same as yours and mine
• the belief that something is the case
• a scheme, intention, plan, etc
• a vague notion or indication; inkling: he had no idea of what life would be like in Africa
• significance or purpose: the idea of the game is to discover the murderer
• a private mental object, regarded as the immediate object of thought or perception
• get ideas? to become ambitious, restless, etc
• not one's idea of? not what one regards as (hard work, a holiday, etc)
• that's an idea? that is worth considering
• the very idea!? that is preposterous, unreasonable, etc

Hello,
Would you please tell me that the red word (idea) in my context, refers to which one of the meanings?
(I have asked this question in another forum but have not received a clear response.)

I'm confused
Thank you