Middle English Dictionary Entry
knighthōd(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | knighthōd(e n. Also -họ̄d(e, knitehod, knightehede, knightwode. |
| Etymology | From knī̆ght & -hēd(e suf.; cp. OE cnihthād. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Active military service, military operations, warfare, fighting; don ~, to perform feats of arms; holden ~, fight; also fig.; (b) a body of knights, soldiers, an army; hevenli ~, ~ of heven, the angels; fig. ~ of heven, the stars [quot.: a1382]; (c) military training, soldiering; (d) skill in fighting, fighting ability, prowess, courage; ~ of honde.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)13/345 : Mannes lyf Is riȝt a kniȝt-hod ine londe; And so seyþe iob.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)161/34 : Þet lyf of man ope þe erþe is ase knythod.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.10.3,4 : We walkynge in fleisch, fiȝten not, or holden not knyȝthod [L militamus] vp the fleisch. Forwhi the armers of oure knyȝthod [L militiae] ben not fleischly.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.1.18 : I comende..this presept..to thee..that thou fiȝte, or holde, in hem a good knyȝthood [L milities..bonam militiam].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Tim.2.4 : No man holdinge knyȝthod [L militans] to God inwlappith him silf with worldli nedis.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.81 : Som vseþ chaffare and marchaundise, som knyȝthode and chyualrie [L militiam].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.423 : In his firste knyȝthode [L tirocinio] he usede his fader maneres.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2513 : To some it [peace] thoghte for the beste, To some it thoghte nothing so..Whos herte stod upon knyhthode.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)169b/b : One manere felde hatte campus..y-ordeynede for walkynge and pleyinge & vse of deedes of armes and knyȝthode.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2835 : [Paris] knyȝthod hath forsake, Prudence and gold, & in his choyse y-take Only a womman.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1682 : We crafe of ȝour curtaisie three coursez of werre And claymez of knyghthode.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)97 : Solyn seith, 'This present lyue is but a knyghthode.'
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)4a : Þe whiche tretys techiþ holliche of kniȝthod and of chiualrye.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)49 : Of knyghthode & Bataile..a werk is made now late.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)56 : Pendragon dide merveloise knyghthode a-monge his enmyes.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)103/28 : Sometym he was bolde..but aftyr he yafe hym [more] to cowardyse than to knyght-hode.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)122/7 : Þis frayl lif..is all temptacion and kniȝthode.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.17.3 : Þei goon & serue to alien goddys..þe sonne & þe mone & al þe knyȝthood [L militiam] of heuene.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 2.13 : Sudenly ther is maad with the aungel a multitude of heuenly knyȝthod [L militiae].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.842 : Thilke astat..of the Romeins, Of knyhthode and of Citezeins.
- (1419) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)82/18 : Þe Prynce of all heuenly knyght-hood haue you in his holy keping.
- a1425 Adam & E.(3) (Wht)99/6 : Oure Lord schal come in hys holy knyȝthood to make iuggement of men.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)13b/a : Centuria: an hondred men in knyȝthed.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)5b : What haþ most profited vs of Rome? forsoþe þe chesing to newe kniȝthod [L tironem sollerter eligere].
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)27 : All þe knythod of rome with her legionis mad hem redy to ride and redresse þis rebellion.
- c1450 Myght wisdom (Add 31042)91 : Thi vesage, Whome to beholde þe knyghthode of alle heuen Ran down to þe erthe.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.80va : He ordeyned Olyfernes prynce of hys knyghthode [L (Vulg.Judith 2.4): militiae] and bad hym goo forth .. agayn them that had despysed hys empyre.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)189/4 : There come with hym an infinite knyȝthode of aungels.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7120 : Thus curstly þat knighthode for a cause light Voidet þere victory.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8422 : Þow do him [Solomon] for to foster slei, To be lered him-self to lede, Wit clerge bath and wit knighthede.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)4a : He techiþ of þe chesing of ȝong men to kniȝthod.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)26a : Þe cure and exercise of kniȝthod [L exercitii militaris]..was fulliche fordoon out of al vse.
d
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)545 : Mid spere ischal furst ride & mi kniȝthod [Ld: knicthede] proue.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1184 : Go we kiþe oure kniȝthod for cristes loue of heuene.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3873 : Thow thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2103 : Neuere sithen that the world bigan As for to speke of knyghthod of hir hond..Nas of so fewe so noble a compaignye.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1640 : His fader grete werres hadde With Rome, whiche he streite ladde Thurgh mihty hond of his manhode, As he which hath ynowh knythode.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3541 : Hector..in knyȝthod so moche him-silf assureth, Dispit of hem his sadel he recureth.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1591 : O swerd of knyghthod, sours of gentilesse!
- (1433) RParl.4.423a : In the which Bataille of Vernule, was slayne and taken ye flour of Knyghthede..of ye Kyngs partie adverse..and of oyer strange nations.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)659 : Quen Philip see him sa fers..he..Comendid mekill his knyȝthede.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)143/22 : Sir Arthure loste so muche bloode that hit was mervayle he stoode on his feete, but he was so full of knyghthode that he endured the payne.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)786 : Come they been in-to Normandye, Knyghthode shewyng by and by.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)5032 : In all the ost..ther is no moo That in knyghtwoode Are like to them twayn.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)245 : Thourgh the helpe of god and his knyght-hode, the vij Ml were discounfited.
2.
(a) The rank or status of a knight; (b) a particular knightly order; (c) the knights as a class, the aristocracy; (d) qualities or actions befitting a knight, the knightly ideal, nobility of conduct, chivalry as a code of conduct, courtesy.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)440 : Þanne is mi þralhod Iwent in to kniȝthod [Ld: knyt hede].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.3021 : Of knyghthode thordre wolde That thei defende..The comun right..Of holy cherche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)180a/a : Þei forsaken dignite of knyȝthode [L militares dignitates] and suffre none to ryse and to be gretter among hem vndir þe title of knyȝthode [L militie].
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Knt.PW (Phys-E)139 : A kniht That thoru kind was bond and thralle, Bot knihthed gat he wit catelle.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.219,226 : 'I wende þat kinghed & kniȝthed [vrr. knythod, knyttehod] & caiseris wiþ Erlis Wern dowel & dobet'..'I nile not scorne,' quaþ scripture..'Kinghod & kniȝthod..Helpiþ nouȝt to heuene.'
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)2.98 : Wo-so passeþ that poynt ys aposteta of knyȝt-hod.
- (?c1440) Will Durham in Sur.Soc.271 fn. : Sethen he hadde taken vpon hym yordre of knighthode he was ye more bounden be ye right of ye said ordre to mainteine..ye right of holy kirke.
- (1450) RParl.5.173b : That no persone..be compelled..to take the ordre of Knyghthode.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)50/9 : Onys for the hyghe Order of Knyghthode lette us jouste agayne.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)472 : Prestis þat comen aftir crist..passen þer maystir crist, boþe in presthod & in knyȝthod.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)256 : I pray yow..that ye wolle avaunce me to knyȝthode.
b
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)320/23 : The seyde brethyrn of the knyhthode of the temple sette to her seele.
c
- c1390 Bi west (Vrn)157 : And corteis knihthod and clergye..Are nou..Rooted in Ribaudye.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.112,116 : Þanne come þere a kyng, knyȝthod hym ladde..The kyng and knyȝthode and clergye bothe Casten þat þe comune shulde hem-self fynde.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.109 : Whanne þat preestis weren princis..þe Romayns þouȝten þat knyȝthode was dispargid.
- (?c1436) Duke Burgundy (Rome 1306)7 : O thou Phelippe..Se how all knyghthode thy werre dothe despise.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)211 : The Kyng of Frauns mad a round tabil in Frauns, to drawe the knytehod of Almayn fro the Kyng of Ynglond.
- a1500(1445) ?Lydg.Marg.Entry (Hrl 3869)48 : Clergie, knyghthode, the lawes commendable Assentyng, alle this matere to ratefie.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)305 : Othea, chyef grounde of polycy, Rewler of knyghthode, of Prudence the goddese.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.89 : The hyhe god him hath proclamed Ful of knyhthode and alle grace.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.96 : Kniȝthod was it neuere To mysdo a ded body.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4359 : He schulde rather, of kyngly honeste And of knyȝthood, haue weddid hir þerfore.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)95 : Thus he comforthede þe qwene with his knyghtehede.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1581 : It come neuer of knyghthede..To carpe of coseri when captyfis ere takyn.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2619 : Will thow for knyghthede kene me thy name?
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2205 : It contraries kniȝthede [Dub: knyghthod]..To any wiȝt werriours in wallis þam to close.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)428/18 : Ye bydde me do a thynge that is ayenste knyghthode.
- c1480(1462) Let.Edw.IV to James III (Add 48031)145 : We .. shal .. pursewe the meanes that mow .. serve to the repression of the malice of our said traitors and rebellis and their receiptours, supportours, and favoures [?read: favouroures] agenste the ordir and custume of reason and knighthod.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)84,90,95 : To knyghthood alle these colours long. The red..was tokne of hardynesse..The cole-blak..of sobirnesse Poraile oppressid to helpe them in ther right..The mylkwhiht..Tokne that knyhthod..shuld..Holi chirche..deffende. The many-fold colours..Been sondry vertues..Longyng to knyhthod.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450 Comment.Hilton LL (Hrl 2406)329/11 : For þes enemys ben alway breme, þerfor euery man moste alway vse his knyghode.
Note: knyghode =error for knighthode?
- a1450 Comment.Hilton LL (Hrl 2406)329/12 : If he vse nouth his knichode ageynnes hem he schal haue vileny of his order qwhan þat he cometh afor Criste.
Note: ?NF