chivalry
Medieval courtly code
Chivalry was the medieval code governing knights—courage in battle, loyalty to one's lord, protection of the weak.
The word now usually refers to courteous behavior, especially by men toward women: holding doors, offering seats, paying for meals.
Whether such gestures are admirable or patronizing depends on who you ask.
Chivalry isn't dead.
Honored mounted soldier
- squireKnight's noble assistant
- armorProtective combat covering
- lanceLong thrusting weapon
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
joust · tournament · steed · coat of arms · page · dubbing · crusader · paladin
Trial venue or sports surface
- courtierRoyal household attendant
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- monarchHereditary supreme ruler
- ladyCourteous term for woman
damsel · pageantry · tournament · troubadour · minstrel · fealty · vassalage · courtly love
Boldness before danger
- courageFortitude facing danger
- heroismExceptional courage under duress
- gallantryCourage, especially in combat
- daringAdventurous courage
fearlessness · boldness · fortitude · prowess · mettle · intrepidity · audacity · dauntlessness
Courteous, respectful conduct
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- graciousnessCourteous, kind demeanor
- mannersCustoms of polite conduct
- gentlemanlinessRefined, honorable male deportment
respectfulness · civility · tact · gallantry · consideration · propriety · decorum · etiquette
Seeking another's romantic favor
- wooingRomantic pursuit of another
- suitorOne who seeks affection
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- admirerOne who esteems another
tryst · paramour · beloved · ardor · amour · pursuit · beau · flirtation
Moral soundness and consistency
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- dignityInnate personal worth
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
fidelity · duty · oath · reputation · righteousness · uprightness · trustworthiness · probity
knight
Honored mounted soldier
shield · joust · tournament · steed · coat of arms · page · dubbing · crusader · paladin · man-at-arms
court
Trial venue or sports surface
lady · damsel · pageantry · tournament · troubadour · minstrel · fealty · vassalage · courtly love · favor
bravery
Boldness before danger
- courageFortitude facing danger
- heroismExceptional courage under duress
- gallantryCourage, especially in combat
daring · fearlessness · boldness · fortitude · prowess · mettle · intrepidity · audacity · dauntlessness · stalwartness
politeness
Courteous, respectful conduct
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- graciousnessCourteous, kind demeanor
- mannersCustoms of polite conduct
gentlemanliness · respectfulness · civility · tact · gallantry · consideration · propriety · decorum · etiquette · cordiality
courtship
Seeking another's romantic favor
admirer · tryst · paramour · beloved · ardor · amour · pursuit · beau · flirtation · serenading
integrity
Moral soundness and consistency
loyalty · fidelity · duty · oath · reputation · righteousness · uprightness · trustworthiness · probity · rectitude
Camelot
Legendary British royal seat
Lancelot · Guinevere · Avalon · Mordred · Bedivere · Kay · Gawain · quest · Tristan · Isolde
- Medieval Termsfeudalism, manorialism, serfdom, guilds, fiefdoms
- historical customscourtly love, feast days, coronation rituals, court dress, curtsying
- Medieval Institutionsabbeys, abbey, convents, convent, priories
- Romantic idealsnoble sacrifice, doomed love, knight errant, self-sacrifice
- medieval studiesmedieval studies, trivium, Middle English, medieval universities, Anglo-Saxon
- heroeshero, heroes, heroine, heroines, superhero
chivalryboorishness
Crude, uncouth conduct
rudeness · discourtesy · ungentlemanliness · disrespect · incivility
chivalrycowardice
Absence of bravery
dishonor · cravenness · pusillanimity · spinelessness · fear
- code of chivalryMedieval honorable conduct system
- chivalric codeMedieval warrior's ethical system
- chivalric idealsMedieval warrior virtue system
- medieval chivalryKnights' ethical code
- chivalric virtuesMedieval warrior's moral code
- romantic chivalryIdealized noble courtship tradition