| 释义 |
chivalrous, a.|ˈʃɪvəlrəs, ˈtʃɪv-|
Forms: 4 chewalrouss, -rus, chevelrous, -russ, 4–6 chyualrous, -rus, cheuelrous(e, -rus, 4–7 cheualrous, 5 chevalerous(e, -allrus, chiualrus, -allrouse, 6 cheualrus, -ryous, -allorous, 4–6, 8–9 chivalrous.
[ME., a. OF. chevalerous, chevaleros, -us, -eus, -eux (not in mod.F.), f. chevalier chevalier: see -ous. In its original use this word became obsolete both in French and English before 1600, perhaps shortly after 1530 (Lord Berners), for in Shakespeare, Spenser, and Dicts. c 1600, it was merely traditional. It reappears in Bailey's Dict., 1721–31, as a word of Spenser and Chaucer. Johnson 1755 has it merely as a Spenserian word ‘now out of use’. But in the latter part of the 18th c. it was revived by writers on the romances of chivalry, and has become again a living word referring either to the historical or the ideal chivalry of the Middle Ages. The early pronunciation as shown copiously in alliterative verse was (as in OF.) with (tʃ-); since its revival it is more generally pronounced with |ʃ-|, as if from modern French (where it is not found).]
I. In early use.
†1. Like, or having the characteristics of, a (mediæval) knight or man-at-arms; esp. doughty, valorous. (See quot. 1611.) Obs. exc. as forming part of sense 3.
c1340Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2399 Cheualrous knyȝtez. c1374Chaucer Troylus v. 802 Diomede was..Hardy, testife, strong, and cheualrous. c1400Destr. Troy 3651 Achilles, a choise kyng & cheuallrus in armys. c1440York Myst. xxxiii. 31 No chyvalrus chiftan may chere hym. 1490Caxton Eneydos xvi. 63 To make hym more cheualerouse than eny othre of hys tyme. c1530Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) Pref. 3 The chyualrous feates and marcyall prowesses of the vyctoryous knyghtes of tymes paste. 1593Shakes. Rich. II, i. i. 81 Ile answer thee in any faire degree, Or Chiualrous designe of knightly triall. 1596Spenser F.Q. i. ix. 1, In brave poursuitt of chevalrous emprize. 1611Cotgr., Chevalereux, cheualrous, doughty, valorous, valiant, couragious, stout, bold.
†b. Of places: Of warlike renown. Obs.
c1440Bone Flor. 2 A more chyvalrous town then Troy was oon In londe was never seen. 1513Douglas æneis ii. v. (iv.) 77 O worthy Troiane wallis cheualrus [Inclyta bello].
II. In modern (revived) use.
2. Of or pertaining to the Age of Chivalry, or to the knights of that age (as viewed historically).
1774Warton Eng. Poetry I. §3. 148 But to sing romantic and chivalrous adventures was a very different task. 1790Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 153 The old feudal and chivalrous spirit of fealty. 1818Hallam Mid. Ages ix. ii. (1837) 511 The manners of chivalrous times do not make so fair an appearance in Monstrelet. 1855Milman Lat. Chr. vii. vi, By the Crusades chivalry became more religious, religion more chivalrous. Ibid., The chivalrous word courtesy designates a new virtue, not ordained by our religion. 1876Freeman Norm. Conq. V. xxiv. 482 The chivalrous spirit is, above all things, a class spirit. The good knight is bound to endless fantastic courtesies towards men, and still more towards women, of a certain rank; he may treat all below that rank with any degree of scorn and cruelty. Ibid. 483 The whole chivalrous idea, an idea quite un-English. 1882― Wm. Rufus ii. 173 The massacre of Limoges, the most truly chivalrous deed ever done.
3. Of, belonging to, or characteristic of the ideal knight; possessing all the virtues attributed to the Age of Chivalry; characterized by pure and noble gallantry, honour, courtesy, and disinterested devotion to the cause of the weak or oppressed. Sometimes, ‘gallant, or disinterestedly devoted in the service of the female sex’; sometimes, in ridicule = ‘quixotic’.
1818Hallam Mid. Ages ix. ii, Eminent instances of chivalrous virtue. 1837H. Martineau Soc. Amer. III. 106 Boasting of the ‘chivalrous’ treatment she [woman] enjoys. 1844Lingard Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858) I. App. 353 Certainly a most unpromising and chivalrous attempt. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. I. 13 A chivalrous perception of the meaning of the word duty. 1863Ouida Held in Bondage (1870) 88 Positively, Granville, you are quite chivalrous in her defence. 1883Lloyd Ebb & Flow II. 45 Frank is the most generous, chivalrous fellow in the world.
4. Of knightly position or rank. rare.
1828Scott F.M. Perth xx, Of gentle blood and chivalrous rank. |