gentlewoman

C2 Topic:People & Society

US /ˈdʒɛntəlˌwʊmən/ UK /ˈdʒentəlˌwʊmən/ See IPA manual

Freq #55972

Meanings

1

noun
a woman of high social standing or good family, or one regarded as cultured and well-mannered; old-fashioned

The novel presents her as an educated gentlewoman with limited financial independence.
2

noun
a formal term of address for a female member of a legislative body, especially in the United States

The chair recognized the gentlewoman from California for five minutes.
3

noun
a woman serving in personal attendance on a lady of high rank; historical

A gentlewoman attended the queen during the ceremony.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a woman of high social... ladywoman of rank

2 noun · a formal term of address... female legislatorrepresentative

3 noun · a woman serving in personal... lady-in-waitingattendant

Word family

Forms gentlewomen

Derived forms gentlewomanhoodgentlewomanlikegentlewomanly

Related forms gentleman nobility courtesy courtier

Etymology

From Middle English gentil womman, modeled on gentilman and now analyzed as gentle + woman. Gentle came through Old French gentil from Latin gentilis, 'of the same clan or nation'; its association with noble birth broadened to cultured, courteous behavior.

Topics

People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# gentlewoman

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈdʒɛntəlˌwʊmən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdʒentəlˌwʊmən/
**Frequency rank:** 55972

## Meanings
1. a woman of high social standing or good family, or one regarded as cultured and well-mannered; old-fashioned
2. a formal term of address for a female member of a legislative body, especially in the United States
3. a woman serving in personal attendance on a lady of high rank; historical

## Examples
- The novel presents her as an educated gentlewoman with limited financial independence.
- The chair recognized the gentlewoman from California for five minutes.
- A gentlewoman attended the queen during the ceremony.

## Synonyms
- lady
- woman of rank
- female legislator
- lady-in-waiting

## Derived Forms
- gentlewomanhood
- gentlewomanlike
- gentlewomanly

## Related Forms
- gentleman
- nobility
- courtesy
- courtier

## Etymology
From Middle English gentil womman, modeled on gentilman and now analyzed as gentle + woman. Gentle came through Old French gentil from Latin gentilis, 'of the same clan or nation'; its association with noble birth broadened to cultured, courteous behavior.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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