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knavery

[ ney-vuh-ree ]

/ ˈneɪ və ri /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR knavery ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural knav·er·ies.

action or practice characteristic of a knave.

unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest dealing; trickery.

a knavish act or practice.

Origin of knavery

First recorded in 1520–30; knave + -ery

Words nearby knavery

knapsack problem, knapweed, knar, knarly, knave, knavery, knavish, knawel, knead, knebworth house, knee

Example sentences from the Web for knavery

Jason died poor and in debt, after all his knavery and schemes.

The Chainbearer |J. Fenimore Cooper
You expect to be paid when my will is read—that's knavery—hypocritical knavery.

Alone |Marion Harland
By the cross of these hilts, I'll never play at gleek again, whilst I have a nose on my face: I smell the knavery of the game.

A Select Collection of Old English Plays (11 of 15) |W. Carew Hazlitt
Nothing but a job or some knavery can keep them serious for ten minutes together.

Table-Talk |William Hazlitt

He answered, shortly: "The woman's folly is no excuse for our knavery—lay the letter down, please!"

Life on the Stage |Clara Morris

British Dictionary definitions for knavery

knavery

/ (ˈneɪvərɪ) /

noun plural -eries

a deceitful or dishonest act

dishonest conduct; trickery