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Meaning & use

chivalrous

adjective·Advancedold-fashioned

Last updated

UK/ˈʃɪvlrəs/
US/ˈʃɪvlrəs/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparableapproving

    Polite, generous and brave in the way one treats others, especially by protecting or helping weaker people.

    Grammar: Used with people or acts: a chivalrous gesture.

    Patterns

    • chivalrous to someone
    • a chivalrous act

    It was chivalrous of him to carry her bags.

    He made a chivalrous offer to give up his seat.

    The captain was chivalrous toward his defeated rivals.

  2. adjectivecomparableold-fashioned

    Showing courteous manners toward women, sometimes seen as outdated.

    Grammar: Modern use can sound old-fashioned or patronizing.

    Patterns

    • chivalrous toward women

    He held the door in a chivalrous way, though she hardly needed help.

    Some find chivalrous manners charming.

    The old gentleman was chivalrous to a fault.

  3. adjectivebefore a nounliterary

    Relating to medieval knights and the code of conduct they followed.

    Grammar: Historical, often chivalrous knight.

    Patterns

    • a chivalrous knight
    • chivalrous code

    The poem tells of a chivalrous knight who rescued a village.

    The chivalrous code demanded loyalty and honor.

    Tales of chivalrous deeds fill the old books.

Common combinations

a chivalrous gesture
Giving her his coat was a chivalrous gesture.
a chivalrous knight
The story features a chivalrous knight.
chivalrous behavior
His chivalrous behavior impressed everyone.
chivalrous to a fault
He was chivalrous to a fault, always apologizing first.
chivalrous code
The knights swore to follow a chivalrous code.

Synonyms and how they differ

gallant
Gallant stresses brave, showy courtesy, especially toward women.
courteous
Courteous means polite to everyone and lacks the knightly flavor of chivalrous.
gentlemanly
Gentlemanly is about well-mannered behavior, usually by men.
honorable
Honorable stresses moral integrity, not particularly courtesy toward others.

Opposites

rudeboorishdiscourteous

Word family

chivalry noun
courteous, honorable conduct, or the medieval knightly code
chivalric adjective
relating to medieval knights
chivalrously adverb
in a courteous, honorable way
chivalrousness noun
the quality of being chivalrous

Commonly confused: chivalrous or chauvinistic?

chivalrous vs chauvinistic

Chauvinistic means believing one group is superior, often men over women; it is not a compliment like chivalrous.

Practice

Offering to carry the elderly woman's shopping was a ___ thing to do.

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