Word
paladin
Phoneticspal·adin
US/ˈpæɫədɪn/
UK/pˈælɐdˌɪn/
Definition
n. a knight who is known for being brave, honest, and loyal. In modern stories, they are often heroes who fight for justice and protect the weak.
n. a knight or champion who is distinguished by virtue, loyalty, and a commitment to justice. Often used in modern fantasy literature to describe a character who upholds a strict moral code.
Examples
“The paladin stood guard over the village during the night.”
“In the game, the paladin is the only character who can heal his allies while fighting the enemy.”
“The protagonist's journey is that of a reluctant paladin, forced to embrace his role as a protector of the realm despite his personal doubts and fears.”
Examples
simple
“The paladin stood guard over the village during the night.”
contextual
“In the game, the paladin is the only character who can heal his allies while fighting the enemy.”
complex
“The protagonist's journey is that of a reluctant paladin, forced to embrace his role as a protector of the realm despite his personal doubts and fears.”
Etymology
Borrowed from French paladin, from Italian paladino, from Late Latin palātīnus (“palace officer”), derived from palātium (“palace”). Doublet of palatine.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.