Dictionary

gentlewomanly en · ADJ

Etymology

From gentlewoman + -ly.

Meanings

1. Having the manners or behavior of a gentlewoman; having social graces; polite.
   • In about three Days more, they arrived ſafe, at Hamſted, and ſtopping at the Court of a large Houſe, that was delightfully ſituated, they were welcomed by a Gentlewomanly looking Matron, whom James had fixed for Houſekeeper, about a Fortnight before. 1765, [Henry] Brooke, The Fool of Quality, [volume I], Dublin: […] Dillon Chamberlaine […], pages 175–176:
   • It was almost as if they were members of an ancient family under some curse—they were so gentlewomanly, so proper, and they sighed so. 1915, Ford Madox Hueffer [i.e., Ford Madox Ford], The Good Soldier […], London: John Lane, The Bodley Head; New York, N.Y.: John Lane Company, →OCLC:
   • Not but I give her a good Gentlewomanly Education; for I have taught her ſeveral Tunes, my ſelf, upon the Dulcimer; and to ſave the charge of a Singing Maſter, I let her go once a Week, with her Maid, in the Upper Gallery, to learn the Songs out of the Opera. [1707], Colley Cibber, The Double Gallant, London: […] Bernard Lintott, […]; […] John Phillips, […], pages 11–12:

Forms

Deriveds

gentlewomanliness