high-toned

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   dated, especially US: belonging to or characteristic of high social rank; aristocratic or refined

   The family considered itself too high-toned for the ordinary boardinghouse.

2. 2
   adj

   disapproving: pretentiously elegant, superior, or moral

   He adopted a high-toned manner whenever wealthy guests arrived.

From high + toned. Tone developed senses involving social style, manners, and moral character, so high-toned came to describe elevated rank or refinement and, often ironically, pretentious superiority.

Topics