Hypertext Webster Gateway: "gentility"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Gentility \Gen*til"i*ty\, n. [L. gentilitas the relationship of
those who belong to the same clan, also, heathenism: cf. F.
gentilit['e] heathenism. See {Gentile}.]
1. Good extraction; dignity of birth. --Macaulay.
He . . . mines my gentility with my education.
--Shak.
2. The quality or qualities appropriate to those who are well
born, as self-respect, dignity, courage, courtesy,
politeness of manner, a graceful and easy mien and
behavior, etc.; good breeding.
3. The class in society who are, or are expected to be,
genteel; the gentry. [R.] --Sir J. Davies.
4. Paganism; heathenism. [Obs.] --Hooker.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
gentility
n : elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
[syn: {refinement}, {breeding}, {genteelness}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.