Etymology of the English word genteel
the English word
genteelderived from the Old French word
gentilderived from the Late Latin word
gentilis (gentile; non-Jew; heathen; gentiles; non-Jews; heathens; of same gens; of the same house or family, tribe or race; pagan)
derived from the Latin word
gens (tribe, clan; nation)
derived from the Latin word
gignere (give birth to, bring forth, bear)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*genÉ™-Date
The earliest known usage of genteel in English dates from the 16th century.
Derivations in English
genteelismUsage
Word found in Modern English
