Knightliness

knight  (nt)

n.

1.

a. Abbr. Knt. or Kt. A medieval tenant giving military service as a mounted man-at-arms to a feudal landholder.

b. Abbr. Knt. or Kt. A medieval gentleman-soldier, usually high-born, raised by a sovereign to privileged military status after training as a page and squire.

c. Abbr. K. A man holding a nonhereditary title conferred by a sovereign in recognition of personal merit or service to the country.

2. Abbr. Knt. or Kt. A man belonging to an order or brotherhood.

3.

a. A defender, champion, or zealous upholder of a cause or principle.

b. The devoted champion of a lady.

4. Abbr. Kt or N Games A chess piece, usually in the shape of a horse's head, that can be moved two squares along a rank and one along a file or two squares along a file and one along a rank. The knight is the only piece that can jump other pieces to land on an open square.

tr.v. knight·ed, knight·ing, knights

To raise (a person) to knighthood.

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[Middle English, from Old English cniht.]

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knightly adj. & adv.

knightli·ness n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

knightliness - the medieval principles governing knighthood and knightly conduct chivalry principle - a rule or standard especially of good behavior; "a man of principle"; "he will not violate his principles"