gentleman

来自词根gen, 生育，词源同generate. 原指出生高贵的，优雅的，后指绅士。

gentleman (n.)

c. 1200, perhaps mid-12c., "well-born man, man of good family or birth," also extended to Roman patricians and ancient Greek aristocrats, from gentle + man (n.); the compound probably is modeled on Old French gentilhomme (the English gentleman itself was borrowed into French in 18c.).

Given specific uses in late Middle English (small gentleman, gentleman-of-arms, gentleman-usher, etc.), hence in England the word often meant any man above the social rank of a yeoman, including the nobility, but it was sometimes restricted to those who bear a coat of arms but not a title; in U.S., "man of property, not engaged in business or a profession" (1789). The English word from the beginning also had a special sense "nobleman whose behavior conforms to the ideals of chivalry and Christianity," and gentleman came to be used loosely for any man of good breeding, courtesy, kindness, honor, strict regard for the feelings of others, etc.

The Gentleman is always truthful and sincere; will not agree for the sake of complaisance or out of weakness ; will not pass over that of which he disapproves. He has a clear soul, and a fearless, straightforward tongue. On the other hand he is not blunt and rude. His truth is courteous; his courtesy, truthful; never a humbug, yet, where he truthfully can, he prefers to say pleasant things. [J.R. Vernon, "Contemporary Review," 1869]

Eventually, in polite use, it came to mean a man in general, regardless of social standing. Related: Gentlemen. Gentleman's agreement is first attested 1929. Gentleman farmer recorded from 1749, "A man of means who farms on a large scale, employs hands, and does little or none of the work himself" [Craigie, "Dictionary of American English"].

1. A gentleman should always be civil, even to his inferiors.

绅士应该总是彬彬有礼,即便是对地位不及自己者.

来自柯林斯例句

2. The gentleman, despite his advanced years, helped Kathryn back to her seat.

这位绅士，尽管年事已高，仍然帮着凯瑟琳回到座位上。

来自柯林斯例句

3. I got this phone call from a gentleman, who seemed sincere enough.

这个电话是一位绅士打来的，他似乎非常诚恳。

来自柯林斯例句

4. The image of art theft as a gentleman's crime is outdated.

把盗窃艺术品看作是一种绅士犯罪的观念已经过时了。

来自柯林斯例句

5. We had no contract; it was done by a gentleman's agreement.

我们没有签合同，就订了个君子协定。

来自柯林斯例句