knightly
/ˈnaɪtli/ adjective, adverb
Forms knightlier knightliest
- adjective Of or pertaining to a knight or knights.
- adjective Befitting a knight; formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly. “knightly combat”
- adverb In the manner of a knight; chivalrously.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English knyghtly, knightlich; equivalent to knight + -ly (adjectival suffix). Cognate with Old English cnihtlīċ (“boyish”), Dutch knechtelijk (“servile”), German knechtlich (“menial”).
From Middle English knyghtly; equivalent to knight + -ly (adverbial suffix).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of or pertaining to a knight; becoming a knight; chivalrous; as, a knightly combat; a knightly spirit.
- adverb In a manner becoming a knight.
Etymology [AS. cnihtlic boyish.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “knightly”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details