debonaire

English

Adjective

debonaire (comparative more debonaire, superlative most debonaire)

1. Alternative spelling of debonair.

Middle English

Alternative forms

• debeneire, debonar, debonere, deboneure, debonoure

Etymology

From Old French debonaire (“of good disposition”).

Adjective

debonaire

1. meek, mild, humble, gentle, kind
2. courteous, gracious
3. benign, favorable

Descendants

• English: debonair

Further reading

• “debonaire, adj. & n..”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Old French

Alternative forms

• debonair, deboneir, deboneire, deboner, debonere, deboniere, debonnaire, debuneire

Etymology

de +‎ bone +‎ aire.

Adjective

debonaire m (oblique and nominative feminine singular debonaire)

1. noble; of a good bloodline
2. (by extension) good; positive; favorable
3. good-natured, meek, mild, humble, gentle, kind
4. (theology) blessed
5. handsome, elegant

Descendants

• French: débonnaire
• → Italian: bonario
• → Middle English: debonaire
  • English: debonair

Further reading

• debonaire on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub