Library / English Dictionary

KNIGHT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A chessman shaped to resemble the head of a horse; can move two squares horizontally and one vertically (or vice versa)

Synonyms:

horse; knight

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("knight" is a kind of...):

chess piece; chessman (any of 16 white and 16 black pieces used in playing the game of chess)

Domain category:

chess; chess game (a board game for two players who move their 16 pieces according to specific rules; the object is to checkmate the opponent's king)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("knight" is a kind of...):

male aristocrat (a man who is an aristocrat)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "knight"):

carpet knight (a knight who spends his time in luxury and idleness (knighted on the carpet at court rather than on the field of battle))

bachelor; bachelor-at-arms; knight bachelor (a knight of the lowest order; could display only a pennon)

banneret; knight banneret; knight of the square flag (a knight honored for valor; entitled to display a square banner and to hold higher command)

Knight of the Round Table (in the Arthurian legend, a knight of King Arthur's court)

knight-errant (a wandering knight travelling in search of adventure)

Knight Templar; Templar (a knight of a religious military order established in 1118 to protect pilgrims and the Holy Sepulcher)

Instance hyponyms:

Geraint; Sir Geraint ((Arthurian legend) one of the knights of the Round Table)

Derivation:

knight (raise (someone) to knighthood)

knightly (being attentive to women like an ideal knight)

knightly (characteristic of the time of chivalry and knighthood in the Middle Ages)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Raise (someone) to knighthood

Example:

The Beatles were knighted

Synonyms:

dub; knight

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "knight" is one way to...):

ennoble; entitle; gentle (give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

knight (originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The daughter wanted to hear who the strange knight was, but the king did not know, and said: “He followed the enemy, and I did not see him again.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The knight in whom I'm interested went back to find the pretty face, and learned that the princesses had spun themselves free and all gone and married, but one.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Mother will keep me to my chamber for a month, and make me work at the tapestry of the nine bold knights.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I am not the one who carried away the victory,” said he, “but a strange knight who came to my assistance with his soldiers.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

'Thankee,' said the knight politely, as he took a pinch and sneezed seven times so violently that his head fell off.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

At the castle which is held by the brave knight, Sir Nigel Loring, constable to the Earl of Salisbury.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Around it he saw several knights sitting in a trance; then he pulled off their rings and put them on his own fingers.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Once on a time, a knight went out into the world to seek his fortune, for he had nothing but his sword and his shield.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

As they read it, Alleyne, who stood with Hordle John a few paces back from their comrade, saw the lady catch her breath, while the knight laughed softly to himself.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But I am likewise the knight who helped you to your victory over your enemies.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)