Knavery: meaning, definitions and examples

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knavery

 

[ ˈneɪ.vər.i ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

deception, trickery

Knavery refers to dishonest or unscrupulous behavior, often involving trickery or deceit. It can describe actions that are deceitful or fraudulent in nature, typically for personal gain.

Synonyms

deceit, dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, trickery

Examples of usage

  • His knavery was exposed in court.
  • The politician's knavery alienated many voters.
  • She was known for her knavery in business dealings.

Translations

Translations of the word "knavery" in other languages:

🇵🇹 trapaça

🇮🇳 धोखाधड़ी

🇩🇪 Betrug

🇮🇩 tipu daya

🇺🇦 шахрайство

🇵🇱 oszustwo

🇯🇵 詐欺

🇫🇷 escroquerie

🇪🇸 engaño

🇹🇷 dolandırıcılık

🇰🇷 사기

🇸🇦 احتيال

🇨🇿 podvod

🇸🇰 podvod

🇨🇳 欺诈

🇸🇮 prevara

🇮🇸 svik

🇰🇿 алаяқтық

🇬🇪 მიტაცება

🇦🇿 fırıldaqçılıq

🇲🇽 engaño

Etymology

The word 'knavery' originates from the Middle English term 'knave', which initially referred to a male servant or a young boy. Over time, it evolved to denote someone who is untrustworthy or dishonest. The suffix '-ery' is used to denote a state or quality, thus 'knavery' reflects the state of being a knave. This evolution of meaning has been influenced by the sociocultural context of the times, where servitude and social hierarchies played a significant role in defining character and trust. The term was widely used in English literature during the medieval period and early modern period, often in reference to characters depicted as cunning or deceitful.