Standard Lemma guide

knightly

adj · adv · 5 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.

  • /ˈnaɪtli/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪtli
  • homophone: nightly
  • CMU ARPABET: N AY1 T L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of or pertaining to a knight or knights.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Befitting a knight; formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • knightly combat

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

In the manner of a knight; chivalrously.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

being attentive to women like an ideal knight

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chivalrous, gallant

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

characteristic of the time of chivalry and knighthood in the Middle Ages

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • chivalric rites
  • the knightly years

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chivalric, medieval

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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

From Middle English knyghtly; equivalent to knight + -ly (adverbial suffix).

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: ասպետական (aspetakan) — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • Catalan: cavalleresc — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • Catalan: cavallerívol — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • French: chevaleresque — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • Georgian: რაინდული (rainduli) — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • Georgian: სარაინდო (saraindo) — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • German: ritterlich — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • Irish: ridiriúil — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • Middle English: knyghtly — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • Scottish Gaelic: ridireach — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • Spanish: caballeresco — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • Spanish: caballeroso — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly
  • Welsh: marchogaidd — formally courteous (as a knight); chivalrous, gallant and courtly