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Added 10 October 2026

knightly

/ˈnaɪtli/ adjective

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about knightly at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Characteristic of the time of chivalry and knighthood in the Middle Ages.
chivalric rites
Being attentive to women like an ideal knight.

Origin

From Middle English knyghtly, knightlich; equivalent to knight + -ly (adjectival suffix). Cognate with Old English cnihtlīċ (“boyish”), Dutch knechtelijk (“servile”), German knechtlich (“menial”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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