Debonnaire

/dɛbɑːnɛr/ adjective

Definition

An alternate spelling of debonaire; showing a smooth, confident, and elegant manner.

Etymology

A variant spelling of 'debonaire' reflecting French orthography more closely, sometimes appearing in historical English texts influenced by French spelling conventions.

Kelly Says

English went through a stage where French spelling was so prestigious that English writers would sometimes keep the French spelling even after borrowing the word—'debonnaire' with the extra 'n' is a fossil from that snobbish period.

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