ENGLISH
REFERENCE

knight

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈnaɪt// UK //nˈaɪt// knight Archaic Literary

n. a person in the past who had a high social rank and fought for a king or queen while wearing heavy metal armor. Today, it is also a title given to someone by a British king or queen for doing great work.

n. a man of high social standing who served as a mounted warrior in the Middle Ages; in modern times, a person who has been awarded a non-hereditary title of honour by a monarch.


SIMPLE

The knight rode his horse into the castle.

CONTEXTUAL

The queen decided to knight the famous scientist for his life-saving discoveries in medicine.

COMPLEX

Historical accounts often romanticise the medieval knight as a figure of chivalry, though their primary function was as a heavily armed elite cavalryman within the feudal system.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English knyghte, from Old English cniht (“youth; servant”).

Usage

When used as a specific title before a name, it is capitalised (e.g., Sir Isaac Newton).

Idioms1 entry

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