Merriam-Webster's word of the day is
chivalry
pronounced SHIV-ul-ree
a noun meaning
1
: mounted men-at-arms
2
(archaic)
a
: martial valor
b
: knightly skill
3
: gallant or distinguished gentlemen
4
: the system, spirit, or customs of medieval knighthood
5
: the qualities of the ideal knight : chivalrous conduct
Chivalry refers to the qualities of the ideal knight, such as honor, generosity, and courtesy — in other words, an honorable and polite way of behaving toward others. It is used especially to refer to such behavior as expressed by men toward women.
Centuries ago, when knights were bold, Anglo-French speakers used the word chevaler (an ancestor of our word chevalier) for a knight or horseman. By the 14th century, English speakers had adopted the slightly modified spelling chivalry to describe their own well-armored, mounted warriors.
Chivalry is dead, they say. The statement is indisputably true in at least one sense: the word chivalry first referred to medieval knights, as in “the king was accompanied by his chivalry,” and we're quite certain those knights are all long gone. But the word’s meaning has shifted since the 14th century, with other meanings joining the first over the years. Today, chivalry typically refers to an honorable and polite way of behaving, especially by men toward women.
When people say “chivalry is dead” they’re usually bemoaning either a perceived lack of good manners among those they encounter generally, or a dearth of men holding doors for appreciative women. The word came to English by way of French, and is ultimately from the Late Latin word caballārius, meaning “horseback rider, groom,” ancestor too of another term for a daring medieval gentleman-at-arms: cavalier. In a twist, the adjective form of cavalier is often used to describe someone who is overly nonchalant about important matters—not exactly chivalrous.
When people say that chivalry is not dead, they're alluding to the high standard of character and conduct typically associated with gallant knights.
(All of this is taken from Merriam-Webster.)
To see it in context or listen to the pronunciation, check the link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day (May 4, 2023).
