gen|teel

gen|teel
gen|teel «jehn TEEL», adjective.
1. belonging or suited to polite society: »

Do now send a genteel conveyance for them, for…they were most of them used to ride in their own carriages (Richard Brinsley Sheridan).

2. polite; well-bred; fashionable; elegant: »

the genteelest dinner I have ever seen (Samuel Pepys).

SYNONYM(S): refined.
3. trying to be aristocratic; artificially polite and courteous: »

Her mannerisms were painfully genteel.

[< French gentil < Latin gentīlis. See etym. of doublets gentile (Cf.gentile), gentle (Cf.gentle), jaunty. (Cf.jaunty)]
gen|teel´ly, adverb.
gen|teel´ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • gen|teel´ly — gen|teel «jehn TEEL», adjective. 1. belonging or suited to polite society: »Do now send a genteel conveyance for them, for…they were most of them used to ride in their own carriages (Richard Brinsley Sheridan). 2. polite; well bred; fashionable;… …   Useful english dictionary

  • gen|teel´ness — gen|teel «jehn TEEL», adjective. 1. belonging or suited to polite society: »Do now send a genteel conveyance for them, for…they were most of them used to ride in their own carriages (Richard Brinsley Sheridan). 2. polite; well bred; fashionable;… …   Useful english dictionary

  • gen|teel|ism — «jehn TEE lihz uhm», noun. a word or expression substituted for another in an effort to sound genteel; euphemism …   Useful english dictionary

  • gen·teel — …   Useful english dictionary

  • shab|by-gen|teel — «SHAB ee jehn TEEL», adjective. shabby but genteel; making or showing an effort to keep up appearances …   Useful english dictionary

  • un|gen|teel — «UHN jehn T», adjective. (of persons or manners) not genteel; impolite; rude …   Useful english dictionary

  • teel — gen·teel·ism; gen·teel·ly; gen·teel·ness; man·teel; teel; gen·teel; cock·a·teel; …   English syllables

  • genteel — gen·teel …   English syllables

  • genteelly — gen·teel·ly …   English syllables

  • genteel — gen•teel [[t]dʒɛnˈtil[/t]] adj. 1) belonging or suited to polite society 2) well bred; polite; elegant 3) affectedly polite or delicate • Etymology: 1590–1600; < MF gentil; see gentle gen•teel′ly, adv. gen•teel′ness, n …   From formal English to slang

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