What does chivalry mean?
Word: Chivalry
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Chivalry means polite, kind and honourable behaviour, such as that once expected of knights.
Synonyms: gallantry, courtesy
How do you spell chivalry?
Syllables: chiv - al - ry
Tricky part: The v comes before the l, but pupils often swap the two and write chilvary. Say the three beats slowly and the order stays straight.
Watch out for: chilvary, chilvalry
Memory tip: Remember the phrase very lovely manners: v comes first, then l.
Chivalry in a sentence
Example 1: Offering his umbrella to a stranger in the rain was a small act of chivalry.
Example 2: Stories of King Arthur are full of chivalry and adventure.
Example 3: In an age of hurry, Mr Rao's chivalry charmed everyone on the platform.
Fun Fact
Its root is the French word for a horse, because the knights who followed this code were men who rode.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word chivalry as used in the sentence:
The old tailor's chivalry towards every customer made his little shop famous in the lane.
a) thoughtfulness
b) rudeness
c) graciousness
d) gentleness
Show answer
b) rudeness. Rudeness is bad manners, the reverse of the tailor's way with customers.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to complete the word:
ch_valr_
a) e, i
b) i, y
c) e, y
d) i, i
Show answer
b) i, y. The first beat has the short i of chin, and the word ends like hungry.
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose the correct word:
The young squire was praised in the old tale for his lciavrhy and his honest heart.
a) civility
b) rivalry
c) chivalry
d) cavalry
Show answer
c) chivalry. There is an h among these letters and only one r, and just one option fits that.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. hierloom 2. chivalry 3. medeival 4. sovreign
a) a king or queen
b) a valued object passed down through a family
c) the good manners and honour of a true gentleman
d) belonging to the Middle Ages
Show answer
c) the good manners and honour of a true gentleman. Medieval has i before e, heirloom opens like heir, and sovereign has an e after the v.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which act would a modern reader call by this name?
a) arriving late for a family dinner
b) holding a heavy door for a stranger
c) taking the last seat on the bus
d) sending a very long text message
Show answer
b) holding a heavy door for a stranger
2. Why might some people today object to the old-style version of it?
a) it can be done only on horseback
b) it costs a great deal of money
c) it can treat women as needing protection
d) it takes too many years of study
Show answer
c) it can treat women as needing protection
