gentilhomme

English

Etymology

From French gentilhomme.

Noun

gentilhomme (plural gentilhommes)

1. A French gentleman.
   • 1876 January, G. Colmache, “Gentilhomme and Gentleman”, in Lippincott’s Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, volume XVII, Philadelphia, Pa.: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott and Co., pages 82–83:

     Then M. de Montrond rose covered with glory and with honor, for in such adventures lay the fame of the gentilhommes of that time.

   • 1997, Grace Anne Morsberger, The Russian Woman Writer in the Salon: Issues of Gender and Literary Space, Berkeley, Calif.: University of California, Berkeley, page 35:

     The salons became schools for assimilation into aristocratic manners. From women, bourgeois gentilhommes learned how to comport themselves.

   • 2020, Judithe Little, “New Silhouettes”, in The Chanel Sisters, Toronto, Ont.: Graydon House, Harlequin Books S.A., →ISBN, chapter 23:

     […] Maud would introduce her to society and help her find a husband from the gentilhommes of the local château aristocracy.

Usage notes

The French plural form is gentilshommes.

French

Etymology

From gentil +‎ homme.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʒɑ̃.ti.jɔm/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔm

Noun

gentilhomme m (plural gentilshommes, feminine gentillefemme)

1. gentleman

See also

• gentleman

Further reading

• “gentilhomme”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.