genteel

adj.sophisticated, cultured

Antonyms for genteel

civil

adjective. obliging, kind

Word Origin & History

1590s, from Middle French gentil "stylish, fashionable, elegant; nice, graceful, pleasing," from Old French gentil "high-born, noble" (11c.); a reborrowing of the French word that had early come into English as gentle (q.v.), with French pronunciation and stress preserved to emphasize the distinction. Cf. also jaunty; gentile. OED 2nd ed. reports genteel "is now used, except by the ignorant, only in mockery" (a development it dates from the 1840s).

Example Sentences forgenteel

Their conversation, though no doubt as genteel as before, was all of broken hearts.

He chose the most genteel, however; he became a wine merchant.

It was the host's profound misfortune to have been overcome by that too genteel lady.

Every one seemed to think it wouldn't be genteel to eat after the disaster.

There are many boys of genteel family, who would have been glad of the chance.

Would he, in his genteel garb, be recognised by some agent of the Sûreté as “The American”?

The latter has not a handsome face, but is a genteel person.

I doubt if any one who has not lived in Philadelphia can imagine how genteel it is.

Within an hour Mike had become a perfect hero in that genteel circle.

He was elegant and genteel, at any rate, that everybody would be bound to allow.

genteel

More words related to genteel

Victorian

civil

courteous

cultured

elegant

fashionable