Dictionary

gentlethem en · NOUN

Etymology

From gentle + them, after gentleman.

Meanings

1. (neologism) Polite term of address for a non-binary person.
   • “We’re conducting biowarfare 101 today, boys and girls and gentlethem.” 2018, Ada Harper, A Treason of Truths, Carina Press, Harlequin, →ISBN:
   • Now it’s the ladies and gentlethem of the jury 2023 April 11, Daily Mail:
   • “Ladies and gentlethems,” Charlotte said, raising her arms like a preacher. “We are saved.” 2023, Camille Kellogg, Just as You Are, The Dial Press, →ISBN, page 13:
   • “Ladies, gentlethems, and my fellow incorrigible assholes!” William shouted. 2022, Rachel Swirsky, January Fifteenth, Tor.com, Tom Doherty Associates, →ISBN:
   • So both she/her and he/him have been used in relation to me. Though, I have to admit that my absolute favourites have been ‘m'theydy’ and ‘gentlethem’ from a couple of cheeky supporters. Even if they didn't realise just how right they were, their general joking ease with non-binary names was one that had me thoroughly entertained and pleased. 2021 June 10, Laura Kate Dale, “The Gender of Language: Finding a Pronoun for My Identity”, in Gender Euphoria: Stories of joy from trans, non-binary and intersex writers, Unbound Publishing, →ISBN:
   • “My queen, ladies, gentlemen, and gentlethems,” Dallas said. 2019, Claire Kann, If It Makes You Happy, Square Fish, Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC, →ISBN:
   • Shopping for jeans can be a terribly gendered experience. I hear you, fellow gremlins and gentlethems, asking why should I wear jeans ever again? 2021 March 1, Mel Compo, “How to Shop for Jeans as a Non-Binary Person”, in Vice, archived from the original on 01 Mar 2021:
   • The gentlethems at the booth here were just telling me about the Butterworth Cemetery excursion and— 2022, Meredith Spies, In the Spirit (Medium at Large; 4):
   • And … did you kiss? [Bella:] A gentle-them always kisses and tells. (No, we didn’t.) 2022 September 10, “Around the world in 80 dates…”, in Saturday (The Guardian), number 50, page 28:
   • Gaydies and gentlethems! The MerseyPride Icon Award goes to . . . Cherry Brandy! 2022, Jonathan Larkin, Cherry Jezebel, Methuen Drama, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, →ISBN, page 4:
   • in a TV show where people dress up as drag queens contestants are asked to name their inner saboteur / ladies & gentlethem, please welcome to the stage Sid 2022, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, “my body is a window”, in David Stavanger, Radhiah Chowdhury, Mohammad Awad, editors, Admissions: Voices within Mental Health, Upswell Publishing, →ISBN:

Forms

Relateds

theydy