genteel

Where does the word "genteel" come from? It comes from Latin gentilis, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1590s).

Genteel’s story begins in Latin: gentilis meant “of the same family; noble.” 'of the same clan', later 'of noble birth' in Medieval Latin. By 1000s, the word had taken hold in Old French as gentil. Kept the sense of high birth. From there it passed into French as gentil by medieval. Softened from noble birth to elegant, fashionable manners. It reached English by 1590s as genteel. Borrowed with an altered pronunciation to distinguish it from the earlier loan 'gentle'. Today, genteel means polite, refined, or affectedly elegant.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient gentilis "of the same family; noble", 'of the same clan', later 'of noble birth' in Medieval Latin.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1000s gentil "high-born, noble", kept the sense of high birth.
3. Stage 3 · French · medieval gentil "stylish, elegant, graceful", softened from noble birth to elegant, fashionable manners.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1590s genteel "fashionably elegant, suitable for polite society", borrowed with an altered pronunciation to distinguish it from the earlier loan 'gentle'.