knight
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a brave soldier in the Middle Ages who wore metal armour and rode a horse.
n.a medieval tenant giving military service as a mounted man-at-arms; typically a member of the lower nobility.
Simple“The knight rode his horse into the castle to protect the king.”
In context“Historical accounts describe the knight as being heavily armoured and bound by a strict code of chivalry during the fourteenth century.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who has been given a special title of honour by a king or queen for their great work.
n.a person upon whom a non-hereditary knighthood has been conferred by a monarch or other head of state.
Simple“The famous scientist was made a knight for his services to medicine.”
In context“After decades of philanthropic work, the philanthropist was formally invested as a knight at the palace.”
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a chess piece that looks like a horse's head and moves in an 'L' shape.
n.a chess piece, usually shaped like a horse, that moves two squares vertically and one horizontally (or vice versa).
Simple“He moved his knight to capture the opponent's queen.”
In context“The grandmaster sacrificed his knight to create a tactical opening in the opponent's defensive line.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a man who is very brave, polite, and helpful toward others.
n.a man who behaves in an exceptionally honourable, brave, or chivalrous manner.
Simple“He was a true knight who always helped people in trouble.”
In context“In the romantic novels of that era, the protagonist is often depicted as a knight in shining armour who rescues those in distress.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to give someone the official title of 'Sir' in a special ceremony.
v.to confer the rank of knighthood upon a person, typically by touching their shoulders with a sword.
Simple“The Queen will knight the successful athlete at the ceremony tomorrow.”
In context“It is tradition for the monarch to knight individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts and sciences.”
From Middle English knyghte, from Old English cniht (“youth; servant”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.