Where does “genteelish” come from?
genteelish (English) comes from English genteel, from French gentil, from Old French gentil, from Latin gentīlis, from Latin -ilis, from Proto-Italic -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -lós — Forms agent nouns from verbal roots.
genteelish (English): Somewhat genteel
Definitions
- Somewhat genteel
Ancestry of “genteelish”, step by step
genteelish traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English genteel
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | genteel | Affectedly proper or refined; somewhat prudish... |
| 2 | French | gentil | helpful, kind; pleasant, amiable, nice;... |
| 3 | Old French | gentil | noble; courteous; courtly |
| 4 | Latin | gentīlis | of or belonging to the same family or gēns: kinsman |
| 5 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |
via English ish
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ish | Pronunciation spelling of is; somewhat,... |
| 2 | English | -ish | Typical of, similar to, being like; Somewhat,... |
| 3 | Middle English | -ish | Alternative form of -yssh |
| 4 | Old English | -isċ | -ish |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | -isk | Creates adjectives from nouns |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | -iskaz | Forms adjectives from nouns with the sense of... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -iskos | Characteristic of, typical of, pertaining to |