gentlewoman

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gen·tle·wom·an

(jĕn′tl-wo͝om′ən)

1. A woman of gentle or noble birth or superior social position.

2. A well-mannered and considerate woman with high standards of proper behavior.

3. A woman acting as a personal attendant to a lady of rank.

gen′tle·wom′an·ly adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

gentlewoman

(ˈdʒɛntəlˌwʊmən)

n, pl -women

1. archaic a woman regarded as being of good family or breeding; lady

2. rare a woman who is cultured, courteous, and well-educated

3. (Historical Terms) history a woman in personal attendance on a high-ranking lady

ˈgentleˌwomanly adj

ˈgentleˌwomanliness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

gen•tle•wom•an

(ˈdʒɛn tlˌwʊm ən)

n., pl. -wom•en.

1. a woman of good family, breeding, or social position.

2. a civilized, educated, sensitive, or well-mannered woman; lady.

3. a woman who attends upon a lady of rank.

[1200–50]

gen′tle•wom`an•ly, adj.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun

gentlewoman - a woman of refinement; "a chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady"

ma'am, madam, dame, lady

grande dame - a middle-aged or elderly woman who is stylish and highly respected

madame - title used for a married Frenchwoman

adult female, woman - an adult female person (as opposed to a man); "the woman kept house while the man hunted"

Translations

gentildonna

gentlewoman

(archaic) [ˈdʒentlˌwʊmən] N (gentlewomen (pl)) (by birth) → dama f, señora f de buena familia

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

gentlewoman

n pl <-women> (dated) → Dame f → (von Stand); (at court) → Hofdame f; (Hist, = attendant) → Zofe f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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References in classic literature ?

This set the old gentlewoman a-laughing at me, as you may be sure it would.

'you would be a gentlewoman; and pray how will you come to be a gentlewoman?

poor gentlewoman,' said she again, laughing, 'what will that do for thee?'

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Meanwhile there was the snow and the low arch of dun vapor-- there was the stifling oppression of that gentlewoman's world, where everything was done for her and none asked for her aid-- where the sense of connection with a manifold pregnant existence had to be kept up painfully as an inward vision, instead of coming from without in claims that would have shaped her energies.-- "What shall I do?" "Whatever you please, my dear:" that had been her brief history since she had left off learning morning lessons and practising silly rhythms on the hated piano.

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"These are new notions," said the old gentlewoman, shaking her head.

The old gentlewoman's heart seemed to be attached to the same steel spring, for it went through a series of sharp jerks, in unison with the sound.

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"As a gentlewoman myself," proceeded the landlady--"reduced by family misfortunes to let lodgings, but still a gentlewoman--I feel sincere sympathy with you.

"I have degraded myself as a gentlewoman. I have forfeited my own self-respect." She paused for a moment, and suddenly seized my hand in a perfect frenzy of friendship.

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And advertising in the papers that a "Gentlewoman of agreeable manners, and accustomed to the best society, was anxious to," &c., she took up her residence with Mr.

Rebecca was driving, and at once recognized the gentlewoman with agreeable manners, and being a perfectly good-humoured woman, as we have seen, and having a regard for Briggs, she pulled up the ponies at the doorsteps, gave the reins to the groom, and jumping out, had hold of both Briggs's hands, before she of the agreeable manners had recovered from the shock of seeing an old friend.

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"You must know, sir, though I am now reduced to get my living by letting lodgings, I was born and bred a gentlewoman. My father was an officer of the army, and died in a considerable rank: but he lived up to his pay; and, as that expired with him, his family, at his death, became beggars.

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One day, while my husband was busily at work, I sat beside him reading an old cookery book called The Compleat Housewife: or Accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion.