knightly

[ nahyt-lee ]

/ ˈnaɪt li /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR knightly ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

characteristic of a knight; noble, courageous, and generous: knightly deeds.

being or resembling a knight.

of or belonging to a knight: knightly duties.

composed of knights.

adverb

in a manner befitting a knight.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

knight, frank hyneman, knight-errant, knight-errantry, knighthead, knighthood, knightly, knights hospitalers, knights hospitallers, knights of columbus, knights of labor, knights of malta

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for knightly

The Daily Pic: The Met's Cloisters branch turns 75, and shows off knightly opulence.
Unicorn, the Luxury Meat|Blake Gopnik|July 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It is as if the knightly purity of the compassionate face above him has revealed the man to himself in his loathsome degradation.
Van Dyck|Estelle M. Hurll
Tancredi burlesques the knightly reverence for a stainless scutcheon by the extravagance of his revenge.
Renaissance in Italy: Italian Literature|John Addington Symonds
But do let's stop, because such a knightly castle wouldn't be rude enough to vanish right before our eyes.
The Motor Maid|Alice Muriel Williamson and Charles Norris Williamson

Many a stout spear was hurled upon them, but the bold and lordly warriors warded them in knightly wise.
The Nibelungenlied|Unknown
Following Balsamo's hint, the baron had donned the insignia of the Knightly Order.
Balsamo, The Magician|Alexander Dumas

British Dictionary definitions for knightly

knightly

/ (ˈnaɪtlɪ) /

adjective

of, relating to, resembling, or befitting a knight

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

knightly

adj.

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