From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishchivalrychiv‧al‧ry /ˈʃɪvəlri/ noun [uncountable] 1 GOOD/MORALbehaviour that is honourable, kind, generous, and brave, especially men’s behaviour towards women2 SHGOOD/MORALa system of religious beliefs and honourable behaviour that knights in the Middle Ages were expected to follow
Examples from the Corpus
chivalry• As chivalry required, I obeyed.• For all his bold chivalry this watchful Celt seems surely to have strayed from a wayside pulpit.• Had she really been sent to him by the spirit of True Valiance himself, to test his chivalry and honour?• The Courts established concepts of chivalry and honour; each knight was to choose and serve one lady.• Nor is this the first instance of chivalry in the midst of frenzy.• Semi-official and unofficial collections include rolls of arms, armorials, ordinaries, work books and papers relating to orders of chivalry.• To the knighthood, or chivalry, of the Middle Ages war had long given a sense of purpose.• If you want a lot of nonsense about Southern chivalry, go to Gettysburg.Origin chivalry (1200-1300) Old French chevalerie, from chevalier; CHEVALIER