English → Latin
“genteel” in Latin
līberālisfreedom; dignified, honorable, befitting a freedman; generous, liberal, bountiful, ampleingenuusnatural, indigenous; free-born, freeborn, of free birth; noble, upright, frank, candid, ingenuoushonestusfull of or regarded with honor; honorable; of high birth; noble; distinguished; respectable; eminent; bring or deservingurbānusof or belonging to a city; urban; fond of, or devoted to cities; cultivated, sophisticated, polished, refinedcomaThe hair of the head.; foliage, ears, blades, stalks of trees, grass (as though resembling hair)ēlegānsfine, elegant, handsome; tasteful; fastidious, critical
The English word genteel itself goes back to Latin gēns, through gentilis.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
genteel
liberalis: ingenuus (suiting the condition of one who is free-born; mostly with reference to the mind and sentiments): honestus (enjoying honor, respect; e.g. of persons, families): ☞ generosus is too strong, implying noble birth and breeding; sometimes urbanus: comis: elegans.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for genteel?
- The usual Latin words for “genteel” are līberālis, ingenuus, honestus; also urbānus, coma, ēlegāns. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.