knavish

[ ney-vish ]

adjective

1. like or befitting a knave; untrustworthy; dishonest.
2. Archaic. waggish; roguish; mischievous.

Other Words From

• knavish·ly adverb
• knavish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of knavish¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, knavish is from the Middle English word knavyssh. See knave, -ish ¹

Example Sentences

To his bourgeois mind, for all his imitation of the Chicago martyr, my words must have sounded knavish.

From Project Gutenberg

Side by side with Arlecchino goes his more astute and knavish brother Brighella.

From Project Gutenberg

Evermore is parade and obsequiousness suspectable: it must show either a foolish head, or a knavish heart.

From Project Gutenberg

Gangs could afford to corrupt witnesses or to pay knavish lawyers skilled in applying these vagaries of legislation.

From Project Gutenberg

Thinking it well beneath me to measure words with this knavish pettifogger, I looked beyond him and spoke to his master.

From Project Gutenberg