adj
genteel
jehn-TEEL
adj
1
Polite, refined, and well-mannered, sometimes to an exaggerated or old-fashioned degree.
"She grew up in a genteel household that valued good manners above all."
"The hotel has a genteel, old-world charm."
How to Use Genteel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefined and polite, often in a slightly old-fashioned or overly proper way.
Common mistake
Can carry a mildly negative shade, implying stuffy or affected politeness rather than plain good manners.
Word Forms
more genteel comparative, most genteel superlative
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She grew up in a _____ household that valued good manners above all.
Etymology
From French gentil ("noble, well-born"), from Latin gentilis — a doublet of "gentle" and "gentile".