chivalrous
oxford
views updated May 09 2018chiv·al·rous / ˈshivəlrəs/ •
adj. (of a man or his behavior) courteous and gallant, esp. toward women. ∎ of or relating to the historical notion of chivalry.DERIVATIVES: chiv·al·rous·ly adv.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
chivalrous
oxford
views updated May 21 2018chivalrous †knightly, valorous XIV; (in mod. revived use) pert. to the Age of Chivalry XVIII; having the virtues of the ideal knight XIX. — OF.
chevalerous, f.
chevalier; see
CHEVALIER,
-OUS.
So
chivalry XIII. — (O)F.
chevalerie — Rom. deriv of medL.
caballerius, for medL.
caballārius CAVALIER.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD