noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈʃɪvəlɹi/
archaic:/ˈt͡ʃɪvəlɹi/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:SH IH1 V AH0 L R IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Cavalry; horsemen armed for battle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, historical, uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The fact or condition of being a knight; knightly skill, prowess.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The ethical code of the knight prevalent in Medieval Europe, having such primary virtues as mercy towards the poor and oppressed, humility, honour, sacrifice, fear of God, faithfulness, courage and courtesy to ladies.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Courtesy, respect and honourable conduct, as between opponents in wartime.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
Courteous behaviour, especially that of men towards women.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A tenure of lands by knightly service.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, historical, uncountable, usually
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
courtesy towards women
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: gallantry, politesse
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: courtesy, good manners
8
noun
Meaning 8
the medieval principles governing knighthood and knightly conduct
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: knightliness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: principle
History
Etymology
From Middle English chivalerie, a late 13th century loan from Old French chevalerie (“knighthood, chivalry, nobility, cavalry”) (11th century), the -erie (“-ery”) abstract of chevaler (“knight, horseman”), from Medieval Latin caballarius (“horseman, knight”), from caballus (“horse”). Medieval Latin caballaria (“knighthood, status or fief of a knight”) dates to the 12th century. Doublet of cavalry.
Across languages
Translations
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
مُرُوءَة
(murūʔa)
— ethical code
Belarusian:
ры́царства
(rýcarstva)
— ethical code
Bulgarian:
ри́царство
(rícarstvo)
— ethical code
Catalan:
cavalleria
— ethical code
Chinese Mandarin:
騎士精神 /骑士精神
(qíshì qìgài)
— ethical code
Czech:
rytířství
— ethical code
Dutch:
ridderschap
— ethical code
Esperanto:
kavalireco
— ethical code
Finnish:
ritarillisuus
— ethical code
French:
chevalerie
— ethical code
Georgian:
რაინდობა
(raindoba)
— ethical code
Georgian:
ვაჟკაცობა
(važḳacoba)
— ethical code
German:
Ritterlichkeit
— ethical code
German:
Rittertum
— ethical code
Greek:
ιπποσύνη
(ipposýni)
— ethical code
Hungarian:
lovagiasság
— ethical code
Indonesian:
kepahlawanan
— ethical code
Irish:
ridireacht
— ethical code
Italian:
cavalleria
— ethical code
Japanese:
騎士道
(kishidō)
— ethical code
Korean:
기사도
(gisado)
— ethical code
Macedonian:
витештво
(viteštvo)
— ethical code
Macedonian:
рицарство
(ricarstvo)
— ethical code
Middle English:
curteisie
— ethical code
Middle English:
chivalerie
— ethical code
Polish:
rycerskość
— ethical code
Portuguese:
cavalaria
— ethical code
Romanian:
cavalerie
— ethical code
Russian:
ры́царство
(rýcarstvo)
— ethical code
Sanskrit:
शौर्य
(śaurya)
— ethical code
Scottish Gaelic:
ridireachd
— ethical code
Spanish:
caballerosidad
— ethical code
Turkish:
şövalyelik
— ethical code
Ukrainian:
ли́царство
(lýcarstvo)
— ethical code
Bulgarian:
гала́нтност
(galántnost)
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Bulgarian:
кавале́рство
(kavalérstvo)
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Catalan:
cortesia
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Chinese Mandarin:
義俠 /义侠
(yìxiá)
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Czech:
galantnost
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Dutch:
ridderlijkheid
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Dutch:
hoofsheid
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Dutch:
galanterie
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Estonian:
rüütellikkus
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Finnish:
ritarillisuus
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
French:
galanterie
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
German:
galantes Benehmen
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
German:
kavalierhaftes Benehmen
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Greek:
ιπποτισμός
(ippotismós)
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Greek:
ευγένεια
(evgéneia)
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Hungarian:
lovagiasság
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Hungarian:
önzetlenség
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Hungarian:
udvariasság
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Italian:
cavalleria
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Japanese:
義侠心
(gikyō-shin)
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Macedonian:
кавале́рство
(kavalérstvo)
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Macedonian:
гала́нтност
(galántnost)
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Polish:
rycerskość
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Portuguese:
cavalheirismo
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Romanian:
cavalerism
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Romanian:
galanterie
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Russian:
гала́нтность
(galántnostʹ)
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Spanish:
caballerosidad
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
Turkish:
centilmenlik
— Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women
