Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Like a knave; suited to a knave; tricky; dishonest; fraudulent: as, a knavish fellow; a knavish trick.
  • Roguish; waggish; mischievous.
  • Synonyms Trickish, rascally, unprincipled.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Like or characteristic of a knave{3}; given to knavery; trickish; fraudulent; dishonest; villainous.
  • adjective Mischievous; roguish; waggish; rascally.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Having the characteristics of a knave; mischievous, roguish, waggish, rascally or impertinent

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective marked by skill in deception

Etymologies

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Examples

  • St. Louis's extreme severity towards what he called the knavish oath (_vilain serment_), that is, blasphemy, an offence for which there is no definition save what is contained in the bare name of it, is, perhaps, the most striking indication of the state of men's minds, and especially of the king's, in this respect.

    A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 2 1830

  • And he took the hollow lyre and laid it in his sacred cradle, and sprang from the sweet-smelling hall to a watch-place, pondering sheer trickery in his heart — deeds such as knavish folk pursue in the dark night-time; for he longed to taste flesh.

    Hesiod, Homeric Hymns, and Homerica 2007

  • And he took the hollow lyre and laid it in his sacred cradle, and sprang from the sweet-smelling hall to a watch-place, pondering sheer trickery in his heart -- deeds such as knavish folk pursue in the dark night-time; for he longed to taste flesh.

    Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica Hesiod

  • At first, when I was unaware of this interest of his in my affairs, he had to divine my intentions, as, for instance, at Papeete, when I contemplated going partners with a knavish fellow-countryman on a guano venture.

    THE HEATHEN 2010

  • In a commercial society, according to Rousseau, the people are "scheming, violent, greedy, ambitious, servile, and knavish . . . and all of it at one extreme or the other of misery and opulence."

    America's Enduring Ideal Paul Ryan 2011

  • Papeete, when I contemplated going partners with a knavish fellow countryman on a guano venture.

    THE HEATHEN 2010

  • At first, when I was unaware of this interest of his in my affairs, he had to divine my intentions, as, for instance, at Papeete, when I contemplated going partners with a knavish fellow-countryman on a guano venture.

    THE HEATHEN 2010

  • It goes with the whole Republican profile - greedy nationalistic militaristic, selfish and knavish. bettyboop33

    Steele: Crist win 'a real possibility' in three-way race 2010

  • Is he sellin 'out US to the Russians who are known for their knavish behaviors?

    Obama, Medvedev reach 'substantial' deal on Afghanistan 2009

  • This woman is a complete IDIOT – I wonder if she even knows the definition of ROGUE - a dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel.

    Christie, McDonnell explain Palin's absence from campaign trail 2009

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