knightly

[ nahyt-lee ]

adjective

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

   knightly deeds.

2. being or resembling a knight.
3. of or belonging to a knight:

   knightly duties.

4. composed of knights.

adverb

1. in a manner befitting a knight.

knightly

/ ˈnaɪtlɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, resembling, or befitting a knight

Derived Forms

• ˈknightliness, noun

Other Words From

• knightli·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of knightly¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English cnihtlīc. See knight, -ly

Example Sentences

His knightly code of chivalry says he cannot refuse what a lady requests, but he also wishes to avoid sacrificing his virtue and potentially losing his life by sleeping with his host’s wife.

From Vox

The Daily Pic: The Met's Cloisters branch turns 75, and shows off knightly opulence.

From The Daily Beast

A harder fate awaited the foremost knightly defenders of Kildrummy.

From Project Gutenberg

With a chivalry nearly knightly they came to the rescue, and gave woman a free pass into the regions of language and theology.

From Project Gutenberg

To sing then a song little Kirsten began, To the tune danced so many a bold knightly man.

From Project Gutenberg

The two first were simply intended as displays of knightly skill, and took their rise in the knightly sports of the ninth century.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the first time we hear of the Champion; but it was an age of knightly revivals, and this was probably one of them.

From Project Gutenberg