knighthood
knighthood Lexical Profile
knighthood Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The title, rank, or status of a knight, whether as a medieval noble warrior or as a modern honor bestowed by a monarch for notable achievement.
"The celebrated actor was awarded a knighthood in recognition of his lifelong contributions to theater and charity."
The moral qualities, code of conduct, or character associated with knights, such as courage, honor, and courtesy.
"Medieval romances often idealized the virtues of knighthood and courtly devotion."
Knights considered collectively as a social class or body.
"The king summoned the entire knighthood of the realm to assemble before the royal tournament."
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'cnihthad', which originally meant 'boyhood' or 'youth' (combining 'cniht', meaning 'boy' or 'servant', and '-had', meaning 'state' or 'condition'), before evolving in the Middle Ages to denote the rank and chivalric status of a mounted warrior.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.