gentility
gentility — noun
1. a way of behaving that is polite, graceful, and shows the kind of good upbringin
a way of behaving that is polite, graceful, and shows the kind of good upbringing that people traditionally connect with well-born or wealthy families
The library had an air of quiet gentility, with leather chairs and old books.
collocation: air of gentility
Soraya's natural gentility made her a favourite among the older members of the community.
After losing everything, the family kept up a façade of gentility.
The novel gently mocks the obsession with gentility among the Victorian middle classes.
- refinement
emphasises cultivated taste and intellectual polish rather than social-class background
- breeding
more strongly tied to family background and upbringing
- elegance
focuses on grace and stylishness in appearance, not necessarily character
- decorum
stresses proper behaviour that follows social rules, especially in formal settings
- vulgarity
the quality of being rude or lacking good taste
- coarseness
rough or crude behaviour with no refinement
- boorishness
rough, insensitive, or ill-mannered behaviour
用法筆記
Often appears in the phrase 'air of gentility' to describe a person's manner or the atmosphere of a place. The word is formal and in some contexts may hint at a deliberate or artificial attempt to appear refined, especially when the person's social background does not match their behaviour.