knighthood

B2 Topic:Ethics & Social Judgment

US /ˈnaɪthʊd/ UK /ˈnaɪthʊd/ See IPA manual

Freq #30117

Meanings

1

noun
the rank, title, or dignity of a knight, especially an honor conferred by a British monarch

The scientist received a knighthood for services to medicine.
2

noun
knights considered collectively; historical

The king summoned the knighthood of the realm to support the campaign.
3

noun
the qualities, duties, or ideals associated with being a knight; archaic

The romance treats courage and loyalty as the highest virtues of knighthood.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the rank, title, or dignity... title rank dignity

2 noun · knights considered... order of knights

3 noun · the qualities, duties, or... chivalryknightliness

Word family

Related forms knightdamehoodaccoladeorder of chivalry

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

medieval knighthood
The institution or status of knights during the Middle Ages.

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English knyghthode and Old English cnihthad, literally the state or rank of a cniht, formed from knight + -hood. Old English cniht first meant 'boy' or 'servant' before developing the military and noble sense; -hood denotes a state, rank, or body.

Topics

Ethics & Social Judgment Register & Style

External links

# knighthood

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈnaɪthʊd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈnaɪthʊd/
**Frequency rank:** 30117

## Meanings
1. the rank, title, or dignity of a knight, especially an honor conferred by a British monarch
2. knights considered collectively; historical
3. the qualities, duties, or ideals associated with being a knight; archaic

## Examples
- The scientist received a knighthood for services to medicine.
- The king summoned the knighthood of the realm to support the campaign.
- The romance treats courage and loyalty as the highest virtues of knighthood.

## Synonyms
- title
- rank
- chivalry
- knightliness

## Related Forms
- knight
- damehood
- accolade
- order of chivalry

## Etymology
From Middle English knyghthode and Old English cnihthad, literally the state or rank of a cniht, formed from knight + -hood. Old English cniht first meant 'boy' or 'servant' before developing the military and noble sense; -hood denotes a state, rank, or body.

## Topics
- Ethics & Social Judgment
- Register & Style

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