Dictionary

noblesse en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /nə(ʊ)ˈblɛs/ (UK)

Etymology

From Middle English noblesse, from Anglo-Norman noblesse, noblesce et al., Old French noblace, nobleche et al., from noble (“noble”).

Meanings

1. (plural, plural-only) The nobility; peerage.
   • All gentlemen are almost obliged to it: and I know no reason we should give that advantage to the commonalty of England to be foremost in brave actions, which the noblesse of France would never suffer in their peasants 1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, 1666. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number):
   • Faire braunch of noblesse, flowre of cheualrie, / That with your worth the world amazed make, / How shall I quite the paines, ye suffer for my sake? 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
2. (uncountable, usually) The quality of being noble; nobleness.
   • But thou, whose noblesse keeps one stature still 1612, Ben Jonson, Epigrams:

Forms

Relateds

ignoblesse · noblesse oblige