Lexic.us

Definition of Knave

1. Noun. A deceitful and unreliable scoundrel.

2. Noun. One of four face cards in a deck bearing a picture of a young prince.

Definition of Knave

1. n. A boy; especially, a boy servant.

Definition of Knave

1. Noun. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain. ¹

2. Noun. (cards) A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack. ¹

3. Noun. (archaic) A boy; especially, a boy servant. ¹

4. Noun. (archaic) Any male servant; a menial. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Knave

1. a dishonest person [n -S] : KNAVISH [adj]

Medical Definition of Knave

1. 1. A boy; especially, a boy servant. "O murderous slumber, Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy That plays thee music ? Gentle knave, good night." (Shak) 2. Any male servant; a menial. "He's but Fortune's knave, A minister of her will." (Shak) 3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain. "A pair of crafty knaves." "In defiance of demonstration, knaves will continue to proselyte fools." (Ames) "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 !" 4. A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack. Knave child, a male child. Synonym: Villain, cheat, rascal, rogue, scoundrel, miscreant. Origin: OE, boy, servant, knave, AS. Cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. Cnapa boy, youth, D. Knap, G. Knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. Knapi, Sw. Knape esquire, knafvel knave. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Knave

knapweed knapweeds knar knarl knarled knarls knarred knarrier knarriest knarring

knarry knars knaur knaurs knauvshawl knave (current term) knave of clubs knave of diamonds knave of hearts knave of spades

knaveproof knaveries knavery knaves knaveship knavess knavesses knavish knavishly knavishness

Literary usage of Knave

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"Thus, if the elder hand's best suit is ace, king, knave, nine, eight, ... He calls and reckons seven, notwithstanding that В has a quart to a knave. ..."

2. A Journal Or Historical Account of the Life, Travels, Sufferings, Christian by George Fox, William Penn, Margaret Askew Fell Fox (1839)
"Neither did Pharaoh, when Moses and 4 Aaron appeared before him, give them bad language, as Sirrah, knave, 4 or the like. 1 Read the prophecies of Isaiah, ..."

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