A man who behaves in a polite, respectful, and considerate way; originally, a man of high social class.
From Middle English *gentilman*, literally “noble man,” from *gentle* (of noble birth) + *man*. At first it meant a man from the upper classes who did not need to do manual labor. Over time, the class meaning faded, and it came to focus more on good manners and character.
Try Another Word