rhizoverbBeta
DictionarychivalrousKnightly courtesy and honor
adjective

chivalrous

SHIV-ul-rus/ˈʃɪvəlrəs/

Showing or reflecting the courtesy and honor traditionally expected of knights.

She makes a chivalrous gesture, sheltering the other woman with her umbrella.

An older woman courteously holds an umbrella over another woman, shielding her from rain while letting her pass first through an open doorway.
Etymology
chivalrOld Frenchknight, horseman
+ousOld Frenchhaving the qualities of

Originally describing knights, the word came to describe qualities ideally associated with them: courage, generosity, honor, and courtly manners. The selected sense emphasizes that ideal in courteous, protective treatment of women.

In context

Pure History8:55
chivalrous behavior in front of Nobles and commoners this provided a platform for displaying social status and Prestige for creating and reinforcing the ideals of chivalry such as courage loyalty and honor
One Tournament Killed Sixty Knights

More examples

  • He considered it chivalrous to defend someone who had been unfairly attacked.
  • Her novel questions the limits of the hero’s chivalrous ideals.
  • The defeated knight thanked his rival for a chivalrous gesture.

Forms

chivalrous · more chivalrous · most chivalrous

chivalry noun — traditional ideals of knightly honor and courtesy

Similar words

courteous
Courteous simply means polite; chivalrous evokes traditional ideals of knightly honor and protection.
gallant
Gallant can mean brave or courteously attentive; chivalrous more directly invokes knightly ideals.