gentlewoman

English

Etymology

From Middle English gentilwoman, modelled after gentilman (“gentleman”), equivalent to gentle +‎ -woman.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɛn.təlˌwʊm.ən/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

gentlewoman (plural gentlewomen)

1. (historical) A woman of the nobility.
   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

     Gentlewoman: Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon […]

2. (US, politics) A female member of a legislature, especially a female member of a House of Representatives.
   • 1998 December 11, “GENTLEWOMEN AND GENTLEMEN DON'T SAY 'LADY'”, in Daily Press‎^[1]:

     'The gentlewoman from California.' Or 'the gentlewoman from Texas.' Gentlewoman?

Translations

woman of the nobility

• Galician: dama f, dona f
• Georgian: მანდილოსანი (mandilosani), ქალბატონი (kalbaṭoni)
• Greek: κυρία (el) f (kyría), αρχοντογυναίκα (el) f (archontogynaíka)
• Irish: bean uasal f
• Macedonian: дво́рјанка f (dvórjanka), благоро́дничка f (blagoródnička), да́ма f (dáma)
• Maori: wahine mārire, mareikura
• Spanish: hidalga f, hijadalgo f, fidalga f, fijadalgo f
• Thai: สุภาพสตรี (th) (sù-pâap-sà-dtrii), กุลสตรี (th) (gun-lá-sà-dtrii)

See also

• gentleman
• gentlelady