Sir Galahad

9.9

A knight of King Arthur's Round Table who is very pure and seeks the Holy Grail

proper noun
/sɜr ˈɡæləhæd/

: Sir Galahad

The legend tells that Sir Galahad was the only knight pure enough to behold the Holy Grail.

Examples

In the old tales, Sir Galahad's quest inspired generations of knights to strive for virtue.
Stories of Sir Galahad emphasize his unblemished character and unwavering faith.
Sir Galahad is a legendary knight.
Many believe Sir Galahad was the greatest knight.
The legend tells that Sir Galahad was the only knight pure enough to behold the Holy Grail.
In the old tales, Sir Galahad's quest inspired generations of knights to strive for virtue.
Stories of Sir Galahad emphasize his unblemished character and unwavering faith.

Synonyms

Galahad

vsSir Galahad

Literature

10 9.9

A very pure knight in King Arthur stories who finds the Holy Grail

focuses on the quest and pursuit rather than final attainment

Surface Forms

Sir Galahad main

Morphology

Sir + Galahad

The form is simply a title ('Sir') plus a proper name, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a knight named Galahad — the compositional relation (title + name → a knight) is transparent. However, the legendary attributes (his exceptional virtue, purity, and Grail quest) are encyclopedic and not derivable from the words themselves, so full understanding requires cultural knowledge.

Etymology

Sir Galahad comes from the old King Arthur stories. He was a very pure knight who, in the tales, was the only one who could find the Holy Grail. So calling someone Sir Galahad today suggests they are 'pure' or very morally good.