Definitions for knaveneɪv

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

knave*neɪv(n.)

  1. an unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest person.

  2. (in cards) the jack.

    Category: Games

  3. Archaic. a male servant. a man of humble position.

* Syn: knave , rascal , rogue , scoundrel are disparaging terms applied to persons considered base, dishonest, or unprincipled. knave , which formerly meant a male servant, in modern use emphasizes baseness of nature and intention: a swindling knave. rascal suggests a certain shrewdness and trickery: The rascal ran off with my money. rogue often refers to a worthless person who preys on the community: pictures of criminals in a rogues' gallery. scoundrel , a stronger term, suggests a base, immoral, even wicked person: Those scoundrels finally went to jail. rascal and rogue are often used affectionately or humorously to describe a mischievous person: I'll bet that rascal hid my slippers. The little rogues ate all the cookies.

Origin of knave:

bef. 1000; ME; OE cnafa, c. OHG knabo boy; akin to OE cnapa, OHG knappo

Princeton's WordNet

  1. rogue, knave, rascal, rapscallion, scalawag, scallywag, varlet(noun)

    a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel

  2. jack, knave(noun)

    one of four face cards in a deck bearing a picture of a young prince

Wiktionary

  1. knave(Noun)

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

  2. knave(Noun)

    A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack.

  3. knave(Noun)

    A boy; especially, a boy servant.

  4. knave(Noun)

    Any male servant; a menial.

  5. Origin: From knave, from cnafa, from knabô, from gnebʰ-, from gen-. Cognate with Knabe. Related also to knape.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Knave(noun)

    a boy; especially, a boy servant

  2. Knave(noun)

    any male servant; a menial

  3. Knave(noun)

    a tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain

  4. Knave(noun)

    a playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack


Translations for knave

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

knave(noun)

a jack in a pack of playing-cards

the knave of diamonds.

Get even more translations for knave »


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