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gentlemanliness

gentlemanliness

1 7.2
Polite and kind behaviour that shows respect and good manners
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛntəlmənlɪnəs/
  • Formal
translation icon : caballerosidad
  • She admired his gentlemanliness, especially when he offered his seat on the bus.

Examples

  • Gentleness is indeed the best test of gentlemanliness.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Illustrative of the civility of Carter and Shils, the rules reflected an aspiration to develop an account of gentlemanliness that could facilitate cooperation among a diversity of men by acknowledging their equal rights to dignity.

    Academic text (2009)
  • - I appreciate your gentlemanliness.

  • I'm not sure if there is a direct translation of 'signorello' from Italian into English, but the Latin etymology is all about refinement, gentlemanliness, and class.

    Blog text (18)
  • It had one chair, which, setting out the treats, I quickly turned into a table—lest Harry, in a mistaken gesture of gentlemanliness, felt he should sit there instead of on the bed.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Klaus could have flattened him but didn't, out of pure—as Klaus saw it—gentlemanliness.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Hitchcock's persona is a self-conscious, ludic performance of Victorian English gentlemanliness that combines the austerity of Pater with the self-publicity of Wilde.

    Academic text (1999)
  • His gentlemanliness was evident in the way he opened the door for the elderly woman.

  • In social gatherings, his gentlemanliness set a standard for others to follow.

Synonyms

manners
vsgentlemanliness
248 1.0

Polite ways of behaving toward other people, like saying please and thank you

highlights refined courteousness and honour beyond simple social rules
politeness
vsgentlemanliness
26 1.3

Showing good manners and respect to other people

adds a layer of refinement and honour beyond basic common courtesy
good manners
vsgentlemanliness
23 1.0

Polite and respectful actions toward other people

adds elegance and honourable character to everyday courtesy
chivalry
vsgentlemanliness
11 6.5

Polite and respectful behavior that men show toward women

is broader, applying to polite honorable conduct in many contexts
niceness
vsgentlemanliness
11 1.3

A kind and polite way of treating other people

focuses more on refined honourable conduct rather than mere pleasantness
gentility
vsgentlemanliness
4 7.9

Polite and elegant behavior that shows high social standing

is broader stressing courtesy honor and overall refined conduct
gallantry
vsgentlemanliness
4 7.3

Polite and respectful behaviour by a man towards a woman

is more general including honor and refined behavior beyond that focus
politesse
vsgentlemanliness
  • Formal
1 9.9

Formal good manners and speech that shows respect for others

is less formal and adds personal honor and refined character
courtliness
vsgentlemanliness
  • Literature
1 8.1

Polite and elegant behavior like people at a royal court

covers that refinement but also plain honorable conduct
decorousness
vsgentlemanliness
  • Formal
1 8.4

A polite way of behaving that follows social rules

includes that propriety but also elegant courtesy and honor
respectfulness
vsgentlemanliness
1 3.9

Polite and kind behavior toward other people's feelings and wishes

is broader, including refined manners and a sense of honour
genteelness
vsgentlemanliness
8.5

A polite, graceful way of behaving, speaking, and dressing

is wider, including moral honor and everyday courteous acts
honorableness
vsgentlemanliness
  • US
7.4

A quality of being honest and fair that earns respect

adds social polish and courteous acts to moral respectability
decentness
vsgentlemanliness
4.4

A quality that shows polite, honest behavior and neat clothes

leans more toward refined courteousness and honorable manners
seemliness
vsgentlemanliness
  • Formal
8.9

Good behaviour that follows social rules and shows respect for others

emphasizes refined courtesy and moral honour rather than mere appropriateness
courteousness
vsgentlemanliness
3.5

A polite way of behaving that shows respect for other people

is wider, combining that politeness with refinement and honourable conduct

Antonyms

35 5.1

Shame and loss of respect after bad actions

vulgarity
  • NSFW
18 7.4

A lack of good taste and politeness in speech or behavior

How Gentlemanly

chivalry
6 7.4
gentlemanliness
  • Formal
1 7.2
courtesy
296 1.9
politeness
26 1.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

gentlemanliness = gentlemanly (transparent) = gentle + man + ly + ness

Formed by adding the productive nominal suffix '-ness' to the adjective 'gentlemanly', yielding the quality or state of being gentlemanly.

Etymology

The word gentlemanliness comes from gentleman, which is made of gentle and man, plus the ending -liness; gentle once meant 'kind' or 'well born', and a gentleman was a polite, respectful man. So gentlemanliness is the quality of being polite, respectful, and well-mannered.