knightliness

knight

 (nīt)

n.

1.

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

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

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

2. 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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knight′ly adj. & adv.

knight′li·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.