Knave

/neɪv/
noun

A dishonest or untrustworthy man.

He is a knave and can't be trusted.
Visual representation of "knave" - A dishonest or untrustworthy man

Often appears as...

  • knave of hearts
  • trust a knave

Usage tips

Literary

noun

A male servant.

The king's knave served him diligently.
Visual representation of "knave" - A male servant

Often appears as...

  • knave attendant
  • servant knave

Usage tips

Formal

Literary

noun

A card in a deck of playing cards with the picture of a young man.

In the game of hearts, the knave of hearts is often considered undesirable.
Visual representation of "knave" - A card in a deck of playing cards with the picture of a young man

Often appears as...

  • knave of hearts
  • jack or knave

Usage tips

Neutral

noun

A dishonest or untrustworthy man.

He is a knave and can't be trusted.
Visual representation of "knave" - A dishonest or untrustworthy man

Often appears as...

  • knave of hearts
  • trust a knave

Usage tips

Literary

noun

A male servant.

The king's knave served him diligently.
Visual representation of "knave" - A male servant

Often appears as...

  • knave attendant
  • servant knave

Usage tips

Formal

Literary

noun

A card in a deck of playing cards with the picture of a young man.

In the game of hearts, the knave of hearts is often considered undesirable.
Visual representation of "knave" - A card in a deck of playing cards with the picture of a young man

Often appears as...

  • knave of hearts
  • jack or knave

Usage tips

Neutral

Definition 1 of 3
Visual representation of "knave"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Negative Connotation

The word 'knave' often suggests the person has bad intentions or is harmful.

Illustration for Negative Connotation
Watch your purse around that knave; he’s known for thievery.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Historical Usage

'Knave' was used more commonly in older texts, so you'll see it more in classical literature.

Illustration for Historical Usage
Shakespeare often wrote about knaves and their trickery.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Literary Device

Authors may use 'knave' to quickly establish a character's deceptive nature.

Illustration for Literary Device
In the novel, the knave's sly smile told us not to trust him.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Negative Connotation

The word 'knave' often suggests the person has bad intentions or is harmful.

Illustration for Negative Connotation
Watch your purse around that knave; he’s known for thievery.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Historical Usage

'Knave' was used more commonly in older texts, so you'll see it more in classical literature.

Illustration for Historical Usage
Shakespeare often wrote about knaves and their trickery.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Literary Device

Authors may use 'knave' to quickly establish a character's deceptive nature.

Illustration for Literary Device
In the novel, the knave's sly smile told us not to trust him.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Negative Connotation

The word 'knave' often suggests the person has bad intentions or is harmful.

Illustration for Negative Connotation
Watch your purse around that knave; he’s known for thievery.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Historical Usage

'Knave' was used more commonly in older texts, so you'll see it more in classical literature.

Illustration for Historical Usage
Shakespeare often wrote about knaves and their trickery.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Literary Device

Authors may use 'knave' to quickly establish a character's deceptive nature.

Illustration for Literary Device
In the novel, the knave's sly smile told us not to trust him.
Visual representation of the word "Knave"

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Video examples

Safari Live - Day 276 PIPE...

listening and aremy you say magical yes you can see why it's called the magical Mara's and when you get scenes like that from time to time it gives you an idea of why it's kids given that's knave that's for sure it really is a special place when these

Video examples

Safari Live - Day 276 PIPE...

listening and aremy you say magical yes you can see why it's called the magical Mara's and when you get scenes like that from time to time it gives you an idea of why it's kids given that's knave that's for sure it really is a special place when these

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Francesco Guicciardini

Italian Historian

Conspiracies, since they cannot be engaged in without the fellowship of others, are for that reason most perilous; for as most men are either fools or knaves, we run excessive risk in making such folk our companions.
Portrait of Francesco Guicciardini

Quote examples

George Savile

English Politician

No man is so much a fool as not to have wit enough sometimes to be a knave; nor any so cunning a knave as not to have the weakness sometimes to play the fool.
Portrait of George Savile

Quote examples

Ambrose Bierce

American Journalist

History is an account, mostly false, of events, mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools.
Portrait of Ambrose Bierce

Quote examples

Samuel Butler

British Poet

There are more fools than knaves in the world, else the knaves would not have enough to live upon.
Portrait of Samuel Butler

Quote examples

George Berkeley

Irish Philosopher

He who says there is no such thing as an honest man, you may be sure is himself a knave.
Portrait of George Berkeley

Quote examples

Alexander Pope

English Poet

The same ambition can destroy or save, and make a patriot as it makes a knave.
Portrait of Alexander Pope

Quote examples

David Hume

Scottish Philosopher

It is a just political maxim, that every man must be supposed a knave.
Portrait of David Hume

Quote examples

Karl G. Maeser

American Educator

He who cheats others is a knave, but he who cheats himself is a fool.
Portrait of Karl G. Maeser

Quote examples

Voltaire

French Writer

Very often, say what you will, a knave is only a fool.
Portrait of Voltaire

Quote examples

Daniel Defoe

English Journalist

Necessity makes an honest man a knave.
Portrait of Daniel Defoe

Quote examples

Francesco Guicciardini

Italian Historian

Conspiracies, since they cannot be engaged in without the fellowship of others, are for that reason most perilous; for as most men are either fools or knaves, we run excessive risk in making such folk our companions.
Portrait of Francesco Guicciardini

Quote examples

George Savile

English Politician

No man is so much a fool as not to have wit enough sometimes to be a knave; nor any so cunning a knave as not to have the weakness sometimes to play the fool.
Portrait of George Savile

Quote examples

Ambrose Bierce

American Journalist

History is an account, mostly false, of events, mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools.
Portrait of Ambrose Bierce

Quote examples

Samuel Butler

British Poet

There are more fools than knaves in the world, else the knaves would not have enough to live upon.
Portrait of Samuel Butler

Quote examples

George Berkeley

Irish Philosopher

He who says there is no such thing as an honest man, you may be sure is himself a knave.
Portrait of George Berkeley

Quote examples

Alexander Pope

English Poet

The same ambition can destroy or save, and make a patriot as it makes a knave.
Portrait of Alexander Pope

Quote examples

David Hume

Scottish Philosopher

It is a just political maxim, that every man must be supposed a knave.
Portrait of David Hume

Quote examples

Karl G. Maeser

American Educator

He who cheats others is a knave, but he who cheats himself is a fool.
Portrait of Karl G. Maeser

Quote examples

Voltaire

French Writer

Very often, say what you will, a knave is only a fool.
Portrait of Voltaire

Quote examples

Daniel Defoe

English Journalist

Necessity makes an honest man a knave.
Portrait of Daniel Defoe
Example 1 of 10
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