noun
knave
NAYV/neɪv/
A dishonest or unscrupulous man.
The knave secretly slips an extra card from his sleeve.
Etymology
Cnafa meant a boy or male servant. Its shift to “dishonest man” presumably passed through “menial” and “person of low birth,” reflecting a prejudice that low social standing implied bad character.
In context
serves god and write god first for god forbid but god should go before such a villain mistress it is proved already that you are little better than a false knave
More examples
- She called him a knave after discovering his forged signature.
- The knave escaped with the travelers’ money.
- In the play, an honest servant exposes the knave.
Forms
knave · knaves
Similar words
- scoundrel
- Scoundrel is a broad term for a dishonest person; knave has a literary or old-fashioned tone.
- rogue
- Rogue can suggest mischievous charm; knave more directly condemns dishonesty.