chivalric

English

Etymology

chivalry +‎ -ic

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ʃɪˈvalrɪk/, /ˈʃɪvəlrɪk/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɪvl̩ɹɪk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ʃəˈvalɹɪk/

Adjective

chivalric (comparative more chivalric, superlative most chivalric)

1. of, or relating to chivalry
   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 146–147:

     And yet, how much chivalric association has Shakespeare flung around their bloom! But for him, the wars of the "rival houses" would be but obscure chronicles of inglorious wars—fighting for fighting sake: no liberty to be defended or obtained, and no foreign enemy driven triumphantly from the frontier: but for him, "the aspiring blood of Lancaster" would long since have sunk in the ground.

   • 1951, Adrienne Rich, Aunt Jennifer's Tigers:

     Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen,
     Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
     They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
     They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

2. gallant and respectful, especially to women

Derived terms

• nonchivalric