gentility
UK[dʒenˈtɪləti]US[dʒenˈtɪləti]
n
polite and refined manners or behaviour, especially associated with high social class.
n
people of high social class.
Morpheme Breakdown
gentil
ity
gentil
well-born
ity
state or quality
Etymology
the word 'gentility' traces its lineage to the latin gens, referring to a clan or family. the derivative gentilis originally described someone belonging to a noble family or clan. this term was adopted into old french as gentil, carrying connotations of noble birth and the courteous behavior expected from such status. the suffix '-ity', indicating a state or quality, was added in english, thus transforming the adjective into a noun that abstracts the condition of being well-born, which semantically broadened to signify the refined manners associated with that social standing.
Analysis
Structure: gentil (well-born) + ity (state or quality)
gentil (from old french, ultimately from latin gentilis meaning 'of the same clan or family', from gens 'clan, race'); ity (a noun-forming suffix from latin -itas, denoting a state or condition).
Examples
she maintained an air of quiet gentility despite the chaotic surroundings.
the old hotel still possesses a certain faded gentility.
his claims to gentility were based more on his manners than his ancestry.