well-bred
well-bred — adjective
1. belonging to a respected old family whose members have occupied a high position
belonging to a respected old family whose members have occupied a high position in society for several generations, typically through inherited wealth, education, and land
Brian's well-bred family had lived in the same country house for over two hundred years.
well-bred family — family with long-established social position
In the old novels, well-bred young ladies were expected to learn music, French, and embroidery.
Sophia came from a well-bred background but never mentioned her family's money or connections.
Nikos spoke with the quiet confidence of someone well-bred and privately educated.
- aristocratic
more specific: born into the titled nobility, not just a respected family
- genteel
old-fashioned; focuses on refined, polite behaviour as a marker of class
- upper-class
broader; refers to social class position without implying good behaviour
文法句型
well-bred + noun
be well-bred
用法筆記
Frequently attributive (well-bred family, well-bred background). This sense is considered somewhat old-fashioned in modern usage, where people rarely describe themselves or others as well-bred directly.
常見錯誤
2. behaving in a polite, calm, and considerate way that shows a person was raised w
behaving in a polite, calm, and considerate way that shows a person was raised with good social habits, such as not interrupting, using polite words, and showing respect to others
Noa was so well-bred that she thanked the hotel cleaner by name every morning.
A truly well-bred person does not boast about their own achievements in conversation.
well-bred person — someone who behaves politely in social situations
Even when the teacher made a mistake, the well-bred student corrected her quietly after class.
David's well-bred reply to the insult surprised everyone who expected a shouting match.
The children were well-bred enough to sit still through the three-hour ceremony without complaining.
- well-mannered
more common and less formal; purely about good behaviour, no class implication
- courteous
focuses on respectful and considerate treatment of others
- refined
suggests elegance and polish in behaviour, often from cultural education
- polite
general and widely used; less specific than well-bred
文法句型
well-bred + noun
be well-bred
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (HIGH SOCIAL CLASS): a person can be well-bred in the manners sense without coming from a high-class family. This sense focuses on learned behaviour rather than social origin.
常見錯誤
3. born from carefully selected parents of high quality, used to describe animals w
born from carefully selected parents of high quality, used to describe animals whose ancestry shows desirable traits such as speed, strength, beauty, or good temperament
The farm imported a well-bred stallion from Ireland to improve the local breeding stock.
well-bred stallion — animal from carefully selected parents
Well-bred Labrador puppies from champion bloodlines can sell for over two thousand dollars.
Reuben bought a well-bred hunting dog from a kennel known for its strong bloodline.
At the county fair, the well-bred Arabians drew the most attention from experienced horse buyers.
- purebred
more common; emphasises that both parents are the same breed
- pedigreed
focuses on the documented family tree of the animal
- thoroughbred
specific to horses; also used as a noun
- mongrel
of mixed breed, especially for dogs
- mixed-breed
neutral term for animals whose parents are different breeds
文法句型
well-bred + animal noun
用法筆記
Attributive only — you say a well-bred horse but not ✗ this horse is well-bred in the animal sense. In predicative position, well-bred defaults to senses 1 or 2 (about people). Common with horses, dogs, and cattle.