gentlewoman
/ˈdʒentlwʊmən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒentlwʊmən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjen-tᵊl-ˌwu̇-mən/ (ame, mw)
gentlewoman — noun
- gentlewomansingular
- gentlewomenplural
1. A woman who comes from a family of high social rank, or whose personal conduct s
A woman who comes from a family of high social rank, or whose personal conduct shows the courtesy, truthfulness, and thoughtfulness expected of people in that position.
Lady Margaret oversaw the household with the quiet authority expected of a gentlewoman of her era.
class context — born into aristocratic position
When the airline lost Amara's luggage, she complained politely but firmly, acting like a true gentlewoman.
character-focused — polite conduct in adversity
The novel describes its heroine as a gentlewoman forced to work as a governess after her family lost its fortune.
Aunt Hana was the kind of gentlewoman who never raised her voice and always remembered everyone's birthday.
Her grandmother taught her the manners of a gentlewoman, from writing thank-you notes to receiving guests with grace.
- lady
more common and less formal; 'lady' is widely used as a polite term for any woman, while 'gentlewoman' is restricted to high social rank or refined character
- aristocrat
focuses strictly on birth and social class, not on personal behavior
- dame
a British honorific title equivalent to a knighthood for women, not a general description of character
- commoner
contrasts on social class — a person without noble rank
用法筆記
Frequently used in historical or literary contexts; the class-based meaning ('born into the aristocracy') is older, while the character-based meaning ('a courteous, honest woman') is more common in modern English.