knave English · revision 1960

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /neɪv/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''knave'',^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) [[inh|ang|cnafa|t=boy, male servant]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Proto-Germanic ''*knabon-''.^(Etymonline) It is related to German ''Knabe'' “boy”^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and Old English ''cnapa'' “boy, servant”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A male child, a boy (before 1050); also a boy or man employed as a servant (about 1000).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From a servant the word passed to a man of low birth, and then to the low character supposedly typical of such men;^(Etymonline) by about 1200 it meant a base, crafty rogue,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) now its main sense.^(OED 1989) The neutral sense lasted through Middle English in phrases such as ''knave-child'' “male child”.^(Etymonline) In cards it named the lowest court card, the jack (1568).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Random House notes that ''knave'' stresses baseness of nature, while ''rascal'' and ''rogue'' are often used playfully.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1000 – a boy servant.^(OED 1989)

+ * a1050 – a boy.^(OED 1989)

+ * c1205 – a crafty rogue.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * c1390 – ''knavish''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1528 – ''knavery''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1568 – the jack in cards.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A dishonest, unprincipled and crafty man; a rogue.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A male servant, or a man of humble birth.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(cards)'' The jack.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[knavish]]

+ * [[knavishly]]

+ * [[knavishness]]

+ * [[knavery]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rascal]]

+ * [[rogue]]

+ * [[scoundrel]]

+ * [[jack]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House distinguishes ''knave'', ''rascal'', ''rogue'' and ''scoundrel''.^(RHWU) ''Knave'', which once meant merely a boy or servant, now stresses baseness of nature and intention.^(RHWU) ''Rascal'' suggests shrewd trickery, a ''rogue'' preys on others by fraud, and a ''scoundrel'' is the worst sort.^(RHWU) ''Rascal'' and ''rogue'' are often used affectionately, but ''knave'' rarely is.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}