genteel

CEFRC1

/d͡ʒɛnˈtiːl/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Polite and refined, sometimes in an affected way.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Polite and well-mannered.

Examples

  • Oh, how genteel and gallant men are when they want something from a poor woman!

  • Genteel America was handicapped by meagerness of soul, thinness of temper, paucity of talent.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
2

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Stylish or elegant.

  2. Affectedly proper or refined; somewhat prudish refinement; excessively polite.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The hostess's blank manners put all the guests at ease during dinner.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

Borrowed from French gentil (“gentile”), from Latin gentīlis (“of or belonging to the same people or nation”), from gēns (“clan; tribe; people, family”) + adjective suffix -īlis (“-ile”). Doublet of gentle, gentile, and jaunty. See also gens, gender, genus, and generation.