the behavior, vocation, or character of a knight-errant.
quixotic conduct or action.
the practices of a knight errant
quixotic behaviour or practices
First recorded in 1645–55; knight-errant + -ry
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Emma had forfeited her confidence, and about the third time of their meeting, she heard all Mrs. Elton’s knight-errantry on the subject.—
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
All the cares of state, however, and all the deeds of knight-errantry to defend the wronged and helpless, could not restrain Theseus’ love of danger for the sake of danger.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
"Certainly," replied the curate, "these cannot be books of knight-errantry, they are too small; you will find they are only poets."
From The History of Don Quixote de la Mancha by Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de
Granted the reality of the scheme of knight-errantry, and Don Quixote becomes a solid, dependable man who will conscientiously carry it out.
From The Gentle Reader by Crothers, Samuel McChord
O glorious restorer of knight-errantry," cried he, "I embrace these legs as I would the pillars of Hercules!
From The History of Don Quixote de la Mancha by Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de
Wodehouse playing the part of Cervantes in affectionately revealing the absurdity of knight errantry in the new social circumstances.
From Time Magazine Archive
Throughout his 60 years of public life, Winston Churchill has managed better than any other Briton to suffuse the political scene with the spirit of knight errantry.
From Time Magazine Archive
It seems the latter had first begun once again to talk of times of knight errantry, and of the feats which the preux chevaliers had performed for their ladies.
From Anna St. Ives by Holcroft, Thomas
The age of knight errantry which Cervantes has haloed with a deathless charm, breathes in this historic Pass of Honour.
From Heroic Spain by O'Reilly, Elizabeth Boyle
See what his crazy knight errantry had brought about.
From Sir Nigel by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir
I mean, those glancing insights, those adolescent knight-errantries, aren't they old news?
From Time Magazine Archive
Happily for her, he fancied that Cleve must have seen Margaret accidentally during some of his political knight-errantries in the county which he had contested with Sir Booth.
From The Tenants of Malory Volume 1 of 3 by Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan
I expect, too, that he was pretty dissatisfied with his knight-errantries.
From The Secret City by Walpole, Hugh, Sir
The rigid guardian of a blameless heart, So long revered, so long reputed wise, Is weak; with rank knight-errantries o’errun.
From Young's Night Thoughts With Life, Critical Dissertation and Explanatory Notes by Young, Edward
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
