Knave

Knave
Knave Knave (n[=a]v), n. [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. knaap, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, kn["a]fvel knave.] 1. A boy; especially, a boy servant. [Obs.] --Wyclif. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

O murderous slumber, Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy That plays thee music ? Gentle knave, good night. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Any male servant; a menial. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

He's but Fortune's knave, A minister of her will. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain. ``A pair of crafty knaves.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

In defiance of demonstration, knaves will continue to proselyte fools. --Ames. [1913 Webster]

Note: ``How many serving lads must have been unfaithful and dishonest before knave -- which meant at first no more than boy -- acquired the meaning which it has now !'' --Trench. [1913 Webster]

4. A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack; as, the knave of hearts. [1913 Webster]

{Knave child}, a male child. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Syn: Villain; cheat; rascal; rogue; scoundrel; miscreant. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Knave — may refer to:* Knave , a popular internet webcomic and card game * Knave (magazine), a British adult magazine *A male servant *A journeyman *Another name for the Jack in a deck of cards *An unprincipled, crafty person *Knave of Hearts (Alice s… …   Wikipedia

  • KNAVE — in Charta Anni 22. Henr. VII. Regis Angl. apud Henr. Spelmann. Ioh. fil. Vilhelmi Conper de Denby Knave, ad satifaciendum Regi etc. forte Armiger est. s. scuti famulus; samulum enim vox Saxonibus sonat. Vide Ian. Dolmer. ad Ius Aul. antiquum… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • knave — [neıv] n [: Old English; Origin: cnafa boy, male servant ] 1.) BrE the playing card with a value between the ten and queen = ↑jack ▪ the knave of hearts →↑card1 (7) 2.) old fashioned a dishonest boy or man …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Knave — [neiv] der; s, s <aus gleichbed. engl. knave, dies aus altengl. cnafa »Knabe« (ahd. knabo)> engl. Bez. für Bube, Schelm; Bube im Kartenspiel …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • knave — index criminal, hoodlum Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • knave — [ neıv ] noun count 1. ) an old word meaning a dishonest man 2. ) a JACK in card games ╾ knav|ish adjective: a knavish trick …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • knave — (n.) O.E. cnafa boy, male servant, common Germanic (Cf. O.H.G. knabo boy, youth, servant, Ger. knabe boy, lad, also probably related to O.E. cnapa boy, youth, servant, O.N. knapi servant boy, Du. knaap a youth, servant, M.H.G. knappe a young… …   Etymology dictionary

  • knave — *villain, scoundrel, blackguard, rascal, rogue, scamp, rapscallion, miscreant …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • knave — ► NOUN 1) archaic a dishonest or unscrupulous man. 2) (in cards) a jack. DERIVATIVES knavery noun knavish adjective. ORIGIN Old English, «boy, servant» …   English terms dictionary

  • knave — [nāv] n. [ME knaue < OE cnafa, boy, male child, akin to Ger knabe] 1. Archaic a) a serving boy or male servant b) a man of humble birth or status 2. a dishonest, deceitful person; tricky rascal; rogue 3. JACK (n …   English World dictionary

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