shabby-genteel

shab·by-gen·teel

S s

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [shab-ee jen-teel]
- /ˈʃæb i dʒɛnˈtil/
- /ˈʃæb.i dʒenˈtiːl/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [shab-ee jen-teel]
- /ˈʃæb i dʒɛnˈtil/

Definitions of shabby-genteel word

adjective shabby-genteel trying to maintain dignity and self-respect despite shabbiness. 1
adjective shabby-genteel preserving or aspiring to the forms and manners of gentility despite appearing shabby 0
adjective shabby-genteel shabby but genteel in trying to keep up appearances 0

See all 3 definitions of shabby-genteel

Information block about the term

Origin of shabby-genteel

First appearance:

before 1745

One of the 47% newest English words

First recorded in 1745-55

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Shabby-genteel

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Shabby-genteel

shabby-genteel popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 31% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

According to our data about 65% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

Matching words

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