debonair
sophisticated, charming (person)
TRANSLATION
debonair = charmant, höflich, kultiviert, lässig-elegant --- GOOGLE INDEX debonair: approximately 1,300,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
When we think of George Clooney, the words handsome, talented, humanitarian, class act, suave and DEBONAIR come to mind.
(Los Angeles Times Magazine)
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Love thy neighbour - and if he happens to be tall and DEBONAIR, it will be that much easier.
(Hollywood starlet Mae West)
(Los Angeles Times Magazine)
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Love thy neighbour - and if he happens to be tall and DEBONAIR, it will be that much easier.
(Hollywood starlet Mae West)
Did you
know?
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debonair
adjective
- having a sophisticated charm
(WordNet 3.0)
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Despite our efforts to remain politically correct, some words or expressions don't give us any leeway. Debonair is a good example, because although the official definition is in a neutral context, in practice it is almost always used to describe a man - or in this case a gentleman.
The dictionary definitions differ slightly however. The Oxford Dictionary defines a debonair man as confident, stylish, and charming. The Cambridge Dictionary says attractive, confident, and carefully dressed.
The American Heritage Dictionary describes debonair as 1) suave; urbane. 2) affable; genial or 3) carefree and gay; jaunty. Finally, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary has an archaic definition - gentle, courteous - plus the modern senses 1) suave, urbane or 2) light-hearted, nonchalant.
Some of the differences here, which are minor, can be attributed to British English (Cambridge, Oxford) and American English (American Heritage, Merriam-Webster) usage.
The best way to think of debonair is a well-dressed, confident and sophisticated gentleman, sort of in the mould of the James Bond character.
For those with some knowledge of French, you may have guessed the word's origin. Debonair is from the Old French "debonaire" and the phrase "de bon' aire," meaning of good blood or race, which originally referred to hawks. It was used in Middle English to mean "docile, courteous," became obsolete and then was revived with an altered sense of "pleasant, affable" in the 17th century.
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SYNONYMS
affable, dashing, charming, suave, urbane, courteous, refined, sophisticated, well-bred, gentlemanly
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Our new sales director is debonair and charming, I hope he's also competent."
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Thanks to Sabine for suggesting today's word!
debonair
adjective
- having a sophisticated charm
(WordNet 3.0)
---
Despite our efforts to remain politically correct, some words or expressions don't give us any leeway. Debonair is a good example, because although the official definition is in a neutral context, in practice it is almost always used to describe a man - or in this case a gentleman.
The dictionary definitions differ slightly however. The Oxford Dictionary defines a debonair man as confident, stylish, and charming. The Cambridge Dictionary says attractive, confident, and carefully dressed.
The American Heritage Dictionary describes debonair as 1) suave; urbane. 2) affable; genial or 3) carefree and gay; jaunty. Finally, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary has an archaic definition - gentle, courteous - plus the modern senses 1) suave, urbane or 2) light-hearted, nonchalant.
Some of the differences here, which are minor, can be attributed to British English (Cambridge, Oxford) and American English (American Heritage, Merriam-Webster) usage.
The best way to think of debonair is a well-dressed, confident and sophisticated gentleman, sort of in the mould of the James Bond character.
For those with some knowledge of French, you may have guessed the word's origin. Debonair is from the Old French "debonaire" and the phrase "de bon' aire," meaning of good blood or race, which originally referred to hawks. It was used in Middle English to mean "docile, courteous," became obsolete and then was revived with an altered sense of "pleasant, affable" in the 17th century.
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SYNONYMS
affable, dashing, charming, suave, urbane, courteous, refined, sophisticated, well-bred, gentlemanly
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Our new sales director is debonair and charming, I hope he's also competent."
---
Thanks to Sabine for suggesting today's word!
