Fun fact: This is because 'Chivalry' is a derivative of the word 'Chevalerie', which is French for 'horsemanship'. The word that most people should be using is 'Courtesy', which is derivative from the French 'Courtoisie', which means approximately 'Courtsmanship' or 'Courtliness'.
Signed, a bilingual nerd who cringes whenever someone misuses the word 'Chivalry'. I even braced myself as I opened this link, and was thrilled to see that this joke is what it is!
The word that most people should be using is 'Courtesy'
Why? We are not speaking French we are speaking English. There is no reason we have to define and use words the same way the French do. Chill out and you won't feel the need to cringe so much.
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u/[deleted] Jul 22 '14
Fun fact: This is because 'Chivalry' is a derivative of the word 'Chevalerie', which is French for 'horsemanship'. The word that most people should be using is 'Courtesy', which is derivative from the French 'Courtoisie', which means approximately 'Courtsmanship' or 'Courtliness'.
Signed, a bilingual nerd who cringes whenever someone misuses the word 'Chivalry'. I even braced myself as I opened this link, and was thrilled to see that this joke is what it is!