debonnaire
əˈnɛər adjective
1.
courteous, gracious, and having a sophisticated charm: a debonair gentleman.
2.
jaunty; carefree; sprightly.
Also, deb·o·naire, deb·on·naire.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English debone(i)re < Anglo-French; Old French debonaire, orig. phrase de bon aire of good lineage
1175–1225; Middle English debone(i)re < Anglo-French; Old French debonaire, orig. phrase de bon aire of good lineage
Related forms
deb·o·nair·ly, adverb
deb·o·nair·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. urbane, suave, elegant, polished.
1. urbane, suave, elegant, polished.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To debonnaire
00:10
Debonnaire
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
debonair or debonnaire (ˌdɛbəˈnɛə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | suave and refined |
| 2. | carefree; light-hearted |
| 3. | courteous and cheerful; affable |
| [C13: from Old French debonaire, from de bon aire having a good disposition] | |
| debonnaire or debonnaire | |
| —adj | |
| [C13: from Old French debonaire, from de bon aire having a good disposition] | |
| debo'nairly or debonnaire | |
| —adv | |
| debo'nairness or debonnaire | |
| —n | |
| debonair or debonnaire (ˌdɛbəˈnɛə) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | suave and refined |
| 2. | carefree; light-hearted |
| 3. | courteous and cheerful; affable |
| [C13: from Old French debonaire, from de bon aire having a good disposition] | |
| debonnaire or debonnaire | |
| —adj | |
| [C13: from Old French debonaire, from de bon aire having a good disposition] | |
| debo'nairly or debonnaire | |
| —adv | |
| debo'nairness or debonnaire | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
debonair
early 13c., from O.Fr., from de bon' aire "of good race," originally used of hawks, hence, "thoroughbred" (opposite of Fr. demalaire). Used in M.E. to mean "docile, courteous," it became obsolete and was revived with an altered sense of "pleasant, affable" (1680s).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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