The state or quality of being a gentleman; the dignity, character, and social standing associated with being a true gentleman.
From gentleman (gentle + man) plus -hood (state or condition). Gentleman itself emerged in Middle English meaning both a man of good birth and later, a man of good character and refined behavior.
Victorian literature obsessed over what made a 'true gentleman'—it was never just about birth or money, but about character, honor, and how you treated others, especially those below you socially. The word encoded a whole moral philosophy.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.