knave : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: knave	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for knave
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
knave n a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel [syn: rogue, knave, rascal, rapscallion, scalawag, scallywag, varlet] one of four face cards in a deck bearing a picture of a young prince Synonym(s): jack, knave
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Knave \Knave\, n. [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. kna[?]p, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, kn[84]fvel knave.] 1. A boy; especially, a boy servant. [Obs.] --Wyclif. Chaucer. O murderous slumber, Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy That plays thee music ? Gentle knave, good night. --Shak. 2. Any male servant; a menial. [Obs.] --Chaucer. He's but Fortune's knave, A minister of her will. --Shak. 3. A tricky, deceitful fellow; a dishonest person; a rogue; a villain. [bd]A pair of crafty knaves.[b8] --Shak. In defiance of demonstration, knaves will continue to proselyte fools. --Ames. Note: [bd]How many serving lads must have been unfaithful and dishonest before knave -which meant at first no more than boy -- acquired the meaning which it has now ![b8] --Trench. 4. A playing card marked with the figure of a servant or soldier; a jack. {Knave child}, a male child. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Syn: Villain; cheat; rascal; rogue; scoundrel; miscreant.