gentlewomanly

English

Etymology

From gentlewoman +‎ -ly.

Adjective

gentlewomanly (comparative more gentlewomanly, superlative most gentlewomanly)

1. Having the manners or behavior of a gentlewoman; having social graces; polite.
   • [1707], [Colley] Cibber, The Double Gallant: or, The Sick Lady’s Cure. A Comedy. As It Is Acted at the Queen’s Theatre in the Hay-Market., London: […] Bernard Lintott, […]; […] John Phillips, […], pages 11–12:

     Then, Sir, I am Guardian to my only Siſter; and tho’ ſhe is ſix Years above Age, I ſtill keep her Fortune carefully in my own hands, for fear ſhe ſhou’d idly throw it away upon ſome beggarly young Fellow: Not but I give her a good Gentlewomanly Education; for I have taught her ſeveral Tunes, my ſelf, upon the Dulcimer; and to ſave the charge of a Singing Maſter, I let her go once a Week, with her Maid, in the Upper Gallery, to learn the Songs out of the Opera.

   • 1765, [Henry] Brooke, The Fool of Quality, or, The History of Henry Earl of Moreland, [volume I], Dublin: […] for the Autor. By Dillon Chamberlaine, […], pages 175–176:

     In about three Days more, they arrived ſafe, at Hamſted, and ſtopping at the Court of a large Houſe, that was delightfully ſituated, they were welcomed by a Gentlewomanly looking Matron, whom James had fixed for Houſekeeper, about a Fortnight before.