Definition

1. Noun:
   • A member of a medieval religious and military order: A Knight Templar was a member of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, a Catholic military order founded in 1118. Their original purpose was to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land.
   • A member of a modern fraternal order: In modern usage, a Knight Templar is a member of a Masonic order, specifically the Knights Templar, which is a Christian-oriented fraternal organization within the York Rite of Freemasonry.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Historical):

  • The knight templar took a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
  • Historians study the financial networks established by the Knights Templar.

• Noun (Modern Fraternal):

  • After becoming a Master Mason, he joined the local Knights Templar commandery.
  • The parade included members of the Knights Templar in their distinctive uniforms.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used historically to symbolize crusading zeal, monastic discipline, or military religious orders.
• In conspiracy theories and popular culture, the Knights Templar are frequently depicted as guardians of secret knowledge or treasures.

Variants and Related Words

• Templar: A common shortened form for Knight Templar.
• Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon: The full, formal name of the historical order.

Synonyms

• Crusader (for the historical context, specifically relating to the Crusades).
• Freemason (for the modern context, though this is a broader category).

Related Phrases

• Knights Templar: The plural form and the name of the order itself, both historical and modern.
• Templar Order: Another way to refer to the organization.

Noun

1. a knight of a religious military order established in 1118 to protect pilgrims and the Holy Sepulcher
2. a man who belongs to a Masonic order in the United States