Adjacent Words

Gentleman definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

GEN'TLEMAN, a. [gentle, that is, genteel, and man. See Genteel.]
1. In its most extensive sense, in Great Britain, every man above the rank of yeomen, comprehending noblemen. In a more limited sense, a man, who without a title,bears a coat of arms, or whose ancestors have been freemen. In this sense, gentlemen hold a middle rank between the nobility and yeomanry.
2. In the United States, where titles and distinctions of rank do not exist, the term is applied to men of education and of good breeding, of every occupation. Indeed this is also the popular practice in Great Britain. Hence,
3. A man of good breeding, politeness, and civil manners, as distinguished from the vulgar and clownish.
A plowman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.
4. A term of complaisance. In the plural,the appellation by which men are addressed in popular assemblies,whatever may be their condition or character.
5. In Great Britain, the servant of a man of rank, who attends his person.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a man of refinement
2: a manservant who acts as a personal attendant to his employer; "Jeeves was Bertie Wooster's man" [syn: valet, valet de chambre, gentleman, gentleman's gentleman, man]

Merriam Webster's

noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English gentilman Date: 12th century 1. a. a man of noble or gentle birth b. a man belonging to the landed gentry c. (1) a man who combines gentle birth or rank with chivalrous qualities (2) a man whose conduct conforms to a high standard of propriety or correct behavior d. (1) a man of independent means who does not engage in any occupation or profession for gain (2) a man who does not engage in a menial occupation or in manual labor for gain 2. valet — often used in the phrase gentleman's gentleman 3. a man of any social class or condition — often used in a courteous reference <show this gentleman to a seat> or usually in the plural in address <ladies and gentlemen> • gentlemanlike adjective • gentlemanlikeness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. -men) 1 a man (in polite or formal use). 2 a chivalrous or well-bred man. 3 a man of good social position or of wealth and leisure (country gentleman). 4 a man of gentle birth attached to a royal household (gentleman in waiting). 5 (in pl. as a form of address) a male audience or the male part of an audience. Phrases and idioms: gentleman-at-arms one of a sovereign's bodyguard. gentleman farmer a country gentleman who farms. gentleman's (or -men's) agreement one which is binding in honour but not legally enforceable. Etymology: GENTLE + MAN after OF gentilz hom

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gannet Gan"net, n. [OE. gant, AS. ganet, ganot, a sea fowl, a fen duck; akin to D. gent gander, OHG. ganazzo. See Gander, Goose.] (Zo["o]l.) One of several species of sea birds of the genus Sula, allied to the pelicans. Note: The common gannet of Europe and America (S. bassana), is also called solan goose, chandel goose, and gentleman. In Florida the wood ibis is commonly called gannet. Booby gannet. See Sula.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gentleman Gen"tle*man, n.; pl. Gentlemen. [OE. gentilman nobleman; gentil noble + man man; cf. F. gentilhomme.] 1. A man well born; one of good family; one above the condition of a yeoman. 2. One of gentle or refined manners; a well-bred man. 3. (Her.) One who bears arms, but has no title. 4. The servant of a man of rank. The count's gentleman, one Cesario. --Shak. 5. A man, irrespective of condition; -- used esp. in the plural (= citizens; people), in addressing men in popular assemblies, etc. Note: In Great Britain, the term gentleman is applied in a limited sense to those having coats of arms, but who are without a title, and, in this sense, gentlemen hold a middle rank between the nobility and yeomanry. In a more extended sense, it includes every man above the rank of yeoman, comprehending the nobility. In the United States, the term is applied to men of education and good breeding of every occupation. Gentleman commoner, one of the highest class of commoners at the University of Oxford. Gentleman usher, one who ushers visitors into the presence of a sovereign, etc. Gentleman usher of the black rod, an usher belonging to the Order of the Garter, whose chief duty is to serve as official messenger of the House of Lords. Gentlemen-at-arms, a band of forty gentlemen who attend the sovereign on state occasions; formerly called gentlemen pensioners. [Eng.]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(gentlemen) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. A gentleman is a man who comes from a family of high social standing. ...this wonderful portrait of English gentleman Joseph Greenway. N-COUNT 2. If you say that a man is a gentleman, you mean he is polite and educated, and can be trusted. He was always such a gentleman. N-COUNT 3. You can address men as gentlemen, or refer politely to them as gentlemen. This way, please, ladies and gentlemen... It seems this gentleman was waiting for the doctor. N-COUNT; N-VOC [politeness]

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. [Eng.] Man of good family (above the rank of yeoman). 2. Man of good breeding, well-mannered man, refined or polished man, man of delicacy and honor.

Moby Thesaurus

Brahman, Brahmin, acceptable person, archduke, aristocrat, armiger, baron, baronet, bloke, blue blood, boy, buck, butler, capital fellow, chap, chauffeur, chevalier, coachman, count, daimio, diamond, driver, duke, earl, equerry, esquire, faithful, fellow, galantuomo, gardener, gee, gem, gent, gentilhomme, gillie, good fellow, good lot, good man, good person, good sort, good woman, grand duke, grandee, guy, he, hidalgo, him, his, hombre, homme, honest man, honest woman, houseboy, houseman, jewel, lace-curtain, lady, laird, landgrave, lord, lord-in-waiting, lordling, magnate, magnifico, male, male being, male person, man, man of honor, manservant, margrave, marquis, masculine, mensch, nob, noble, nobleman, optimate, palsgrave, patrician, pearl, peer, perfect gentleman, perfect lady, persona grata, prince, real lady, real man, right sort, rough diamond, seigneur, seignior, silk-stocking, squire, straight shooter, swell, thoroughbred, true blue, truepenny, trusty, upper-cruster, valet, valet de chambre, viscount, waldgrave, woman of honor, worthy