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View synonyms for knave
knave
[ neyv ]
- an unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest person.
Synonyms: scapegrace, scamp, villain, blackguard
- Cards. jack 1( def 2 ).
- Archaic.
- a male servant.
- a man of humble position.
knave
/ neɪv /
- archaic.a dishonest man; rogue
- another word for jack 1
- obsolete.a male servant
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Derived Forms
- ˈknavish, adjective
- ˈknavishness, noun
- ˈknavishly, adverb
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Word History and Origins
Origin of knave1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English cnafa; cognate with German Knabe “boy”; akin to Old Norse knapi “page, boy”
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Word History and Origins
Origin of knave1
Old English cnafa; related to Old High German knabo boy
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Synonym Study
Knave, rascal, rogue, scoundrel are disparaging terms applied to persons considered base, dishonest, or worthless. Knave, which formerly meant merely a boy or servant, in modern use emphasizes baseness of nature and intention: a dishonest and swindling knave. Rascal suggests shrewdness and trickery in dishonesty: a plausible rascal. A rogue is a worthless fellow who sometimes preys extensively upon the community by fraud: photographs of criminals in a rogues' gallery. A scoundrel is a blackguard and rogue of the worst sort: a thorough scoundrel. Rascal and rogue are often used affectionately or humorously ( an entertaining rascal; a saucy rogue ), but knave and scoundrel are not.
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Example Sentences
Sometimes necessity makes an honest man a knave: and a rich man a honest man, because he has no occasion to be a knave.
From Project Gutenberg
He has drawn a knave and a six; he takes another card; this turns out to be an ace.
From Project Gutenberg
A witty knave bargained with a seller of lace in London for as much as would reach from one of his ears to the other.
From Project Gutenberg
Right; for your knave, when great folks have occasion for him, is received with little inquiry into his character.
From Project Gutenberg
Then, the sallow, black-haired knave who had last night proclaimed himself as Garnache in disguise was some impostor.
From Project Gutenberg
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