Dictionary

chivalry en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈʃɪvəlɹi/
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈt͡ʃɪvəlɹi/ (archaic)

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.

Meanings

1. (archaic, historical, uncountable, usually) Cavalry; horsemen armed for battle.
   • ‘Most of the lords who rode with Lord Renly to Storm's End have gone over banner-and-blade to Stannis, with all their chivalry.’ 1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 529:
2. (obsolete, uncountable, usually) The fact or condition of being a knight; knightly skill, prowess.
3. (uncountable, usually) 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.
4. (uncountable, usually) Courtesy, respect and honourable conduct, as between opponents in wartime.
   • He had seen the woman he craved—his woman—his mate—in the arms of another. There had been but one course open to him, according to the fierce jungle code that guided him in this other existence; but just before it had become too late the softer sentiments of his inherent chivalry had risen above the flaming fires of his passion and saved him. A thousand times he gave thanks that they had triumphed before his fingers had released that polished arrow. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 195:
5. (uncountable, usually) Courteous behaviour, especially that of men towards women.
   • The elevator doors close just as Luisa Rey reaches them, but the unseen occupant jams them with his cane. “Thank you,” says Luisa to the old man. “Glad the age of chivalry isn’t totally dead.” 2004, David Mitchell, “Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery”, in Cloud Atlas, →ISBN, page 91:
6. (UK, historical, uncountable, usually) A tenure of lands by knightly service.

Forms

Deriveds

chivalric

Relateds

chevalier · cavalier · chivalrous · bushido · xiá · chivalresque

Translations (63)

hu lovagiasság (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · enm chivalerie (ethical code) · ka რაინდობა (ethical code) · hu lovagiasság (ethical code) · bg гала́нтност (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · tr centilmenlik (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · ar مُرُوءَة (ethical code) · ko 기사도 (ethical code) · fi ritarillisuus (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · gd ridireachd (ethical code) · ru ры́царство (ethical code) · de galantes Benehmen (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · ja 義侠心 (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · it cavalleria (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · ca cavalleria (ethical code) · nl galanterie (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · eo kavalireco (ethical code) · pl rycerskość (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · de Rittertum (ethical code) · mk витештво (ethical code) · fr galanterie (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · ca cortesia (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · ro cavalerism (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · hu önzetlenség (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · mk гала́нтност (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · sa शौर्य (ethical code) · ro galanterie (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · ja 騎士道 (ethical code) · nl hoofsheid (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · ru гала́нтность (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · cmn 騎士精神 /骑士精神 (ethical code) · bg кавале́рство (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · pt cavalaria (ethical code) · el ιπποτισμός (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · cmn 義俠 /义侠 (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · mk рицарство (ethical code) · cs galantnost (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · id kepahlawanan (ethical code) · es caballerosidad (ethical code) · pl rycerskość (ethical code) · de Ritterlichkeit (ethical code) · tr şövalyelik (ethical code) · it cavalleria (ethical code) · enm curteisie (ethical code) · nl ridderschap (ethical code) · ro cavalerie (ethical code) · pt cavalheirismo (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · mk кавале́рство (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · el ευγένεια (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · fr chevalerie (ethical code) · de kavalierhaftes Benehmen (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · be ры́царства (ethical code) · es caballerosidad (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · ga ridireacht (ethical code) · et rüütellikkus (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · cs rytířství (ethical code) · bg ри́царство (ethical code) · ka ვაჟკაცობა (ethical code) · el ιπποσύνη (ethical code) · uk ли́царство (ethical code) · hu udvariasság (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · nl ridderlijkheid (Courteous behavior, especially that of men towards women) · fi ritarillisuus (ethical code)