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knightly

[nahyt-lee]
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adjective
  1. characteristic of a knight; noble, courageous, and generous: knightly deeds.
  2. being or resembling a knight.
  3. of or belonging to a knight: knightly duties.
  4. composed of knights.
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adverb
  1. in a manner befitting a knight.
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Origin of knightly

before 1000; Middle English; Old English cnihtlīc. See knight, -ly
Related formsknight·li·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

accommodatingaffableamiableamicableapproachablebeneficentbenevolentbenignbenignantbig-heartedblandcharitablechivalrouscivilcompassionatecomplaisantcongenialconsideratecordialcourteous

Examples from the Web for knightly

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • “Queens of Beauty” presided at these contests of knightly skill and daring.

    English Villages

    P. H. Ditchfield

  • There was much pomp and ceremony attached to these knightly exercises.

    English Villages

    P. H. Ditchfield

  • You will remember, Sir John, that you pledged me your knightly word for that.

    The Sea-Hawk

    Raphael Sabatini

  • And now, says Westcote, 'it glories in the knightly tribe of Champernowne.'

  • His six elder sons did likewise, and all were famed for their knightly prowess.

British Dictionary definitions for knightly

knightly

adjective
  1. of, relating to, resembling, or befitting a knight
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Derived Formsknightliness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for knightly

adj.

Old English cnihtlic; see knight (n.) + -ly (1).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper