English Explanatory Dictionary

knave

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A boy; especially, a boy servant.
  2. Any male servant; a menial.
  3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person.
  4. A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or a soldier.

Pronunciation

nāv /neɪv/ en-us-knave.ogg

Word forms

knave knaves

Etymology

From Middle English knave, knafe, from Old English cnafa (“child, boy, youth; servant”), from Proto-West Germanic *knabō. Cognate to Dutch knaap and German Knabe.

Synonyms

rogue villain antimodel bad guy baddie bastard beggar blackguard bounder cad coistril evildoer fustilarian harlot heavy knave lidderon makeshift miscreant ne'er-do-well niding nithing rapscallion rascal scab scamp scapegrace scoundrel scum scumbag thug undesirable varlet jack mul:J

Derived words

beknave knave bairn knave of clubs knave of diamonds knave of hearts knave of spades knaveproof knavery knaveship knavess knavish
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