Medieval Literature Vocabulary

noun a legendary horse known for its exceptional beauty and spirit

• The knight rode into battle on his trusty bayard steed.
• I saw a beautiful bayard horse at the ranch yesterday.
• That bayard is one fine-looking horse!
• Her determination was as strong and steadfast as a bayard in battle.

noun the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak

• Chivalry is often associated with the medieval code of conduct for knights.
• Some people still believe in chivalry and hold doors open for others.
• I heard he's a real chivalrous guy, always helping out his friends.
• In modern times, chivalry can be seen as simply treating others with respect and kindness.

noun the quality of being polite and well-mannered, especially in a formal or royal setting

• Her courtliness and grace were admired by all who attended the royal ball.
• She always carries herself with such courtliness, even in casual settings.
• Who knew that behind his tough exterior, he had a touch of courtliness?
• The courtliness of his words masked the true intentions behind his actions.

noun a notable or heroic deed; an exploit

verb to perform a notable or heroic deed; to accomplish an exploit

• The artist used precise gestural strokes to create a dynamic composition.
• She made a grand gest to signal for everyone to come over.
• He threw up a peace gest before leaving the party.
• Her decision to quit her job was a bold gest towards pursuing her passion.

noun the actions or behavior of a knight errant

• Knight errantry was a common practice among medieval noblemen seeking adventure and glory.
• Back in the day, knight errantry was like being a superhero without the cape.
• Yo, that dude was all about that knight errantry life, always looking for quests and stuff.
• In modern times, some people see entrepreneurship as a form of knight errantry, taking risks and seeking success in uncharted territories.

noun a person who copies out documents, especially one employed to do this before printing was invented

verb to write or copy something down

• The scribe meticulously transcribed the ancient manuscript onto parchment.
• The scribe copied down all the notes from the meeting.
• Yo, that scribe dude is always jotting down everything we say.
• She was considered the scribe of the family, always keeping track of important dates and events.

adjective showing courage or determination; brave

• The knight's valorous deeds on the battlefield earned him great respect.
• My friend showed his valorous side when he stood up to the bully.
• That guy is pretty valorous, always ready to take on any challenge.
• Her valorous spirit shone through in the face of adversity.

noun a West Germanic language spoken mainly in northern Germany and the eastern part of the Netherlands

adjective relating to or characteristic of the Low German language or its speakers

• Low German is a West Germanic language spoken mainly in northern Germany and the eastern part of the Netherlands.
• My grandmother still speaks Low German at home.
• I didn't understand a word of that Low German conversation.
• The company's financial report was written in such low German that even the experts had trouble deciphering it.