The World of Words: Vocabulary for College Success ... - eLibrary

102 Chapter 4 Other Useful English WordsCustoms of KnighthoodThe word accolade comes from a ceremony during the Middle Ages in which a warriorwas made a knight. The ruler gave the knight an accolade (an embrace) anddubbed him (tapped him on the shoulder with a sword). Thus, the word accoladeis related to the word chivalrous, the third word in this section. Knighthoods arestill awarded: In 2009, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy was made British knight, Sir Ted.2. augment (verb) ôg-mĕntto increaseThe university’s foreign language offerings were augmentedby classes in Mandarin and Hindu.We built additional cabinets to augment our kitchenstorage space. Related Wordaugmentation (noun) The Internet has resulted in considerableaugmentation of readily available information.3. chivalrous (adjective) shĭvəl-rəshaving qualities of honor, including courtesy, bravery, and loyaltyIn a chivalrous gesture, the man gave his seat on the bus toan elderly woman.The chivalrous knight refused to attack his enemy whilehis back was turned. Related Wordchivalry (noun) In a famous act of chivalry, Sir Walter Raleighlaid his cloak across a puddle so that Queen Elizabeth I couldcross without getting her feet wet.NOTE: Chivalry usually refers to the actions of men and often refersto courtesy and consideration for women.Chivalry in the Middle AgesChivalry was the ideal code of conduct for European knights in the MiddleAges. A true knight was brave, loyal, and fair; he showed mercy to the defeatedand loyalty to his overlord, or master. In the tradition of courtly love, a knightdedicated poems to his lady and fought tournaments in her name. However,this idealized passion involved only worship from afar. Today, chivalrous gesturesare considered old-fashioned, but in the Middle Ages they represented animprovement in the treatment of women. Note that the word chivalrous comesfrom the Latin word for horse, caballus, for only the wealthy could afford touse horses in battles or tournaments.Copyright © Cengage Learning. All Right Reserved.