gentlethem

English

Etymology

From gentle +‎ them, after gentleman.

Noun

gentlethem (plural gentlethems or gentlethem)

1. (neologism) Polite term of address for a non-binary person.
   • 2018, Ada Harper, A Treason of Truths, Carina Press, Harlequin, →ISBN:

     “We’re conducting biowarfare 101 today, boys and girls and gentlethem.”

   • 2019, Claire Kann, If It Makes You Happy, Square Fish, Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC, →ISBN:

     “My queen, ladies, gentlemen, and gentlethems,” Dallas said.

   • 2021 March 1, Mel Compo, “How to Shop for Jeans as a Non-Binary Person”, in Vice‎^[1], archived from the original on 1 March 2021:

     Shopping for jeans can be a terribly gendered experience. I hear you, fellow gremlins and gentlethems, asking why should I wear jeans ever again?

   • 2022, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, “my body is a window”, in David Stavanger, Radhiah Chowdhury, Mohammad Awad, editors, Admissions: Voices within Mental Health, Upswell Publishing, →ISBN:

     in a TV show where people dress up as drag queens contestants are asked to name their inner saboteur / ladies & gentlethem, please welcome to the stage Sid

   • 2022, Jonathan Larkin, Cherry Jezebel, Methuen Drama, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, →ISBN, page 4:

     Gaydies and gentlethems! The MerseyPride Icon Award goes to . . . Cherry Brandy!

   • 2022, Meredith Spies, In the Spirit (Medium at Large; 4):

     The gentlethems at the booth here were just telling me about the Butterworth Cemetery excursion and—

   • 2022, Rachel Swirsky, January Fifteenth, Tor.com, Tom Doherty Associates, →ISBN:

     “Ladies, gentlethems, and my fellow incorrigible assholes!” William shouted.

   • 2022 September 10, “Around the world in 80 dates…”, in Saturday (The Guardian), number 50, page 28:

     And … did you kiss? [Bella:] A gentle-them always kisses and tells. (No, we didn’t.)

   • 2023, Camille Kellogg, Just as You Are, The Dial Press, →ISBN, page 13:

     “Ladies and gentlethems,” Charlotte said, raising her arms like a preacher. “We are saved.”

   • 2023 April 11, Daily Mail‎^[2]:

     Now it’s the ladies and gentlethem of the jury

Usage notes

Chiefly used in variations of ladies and gentlemen; see theydies and gentlethems.

See also

• theydy