early 13c., "woman of good family or breeding," from gentle + woman. It seems never to have developed the looser senses in gentleman; Bret Harte tried gentlewomanliness.
权威例句
1. She was , to the end, a gentlewoman of the old school , gracious and mannerly.
说到底, 她仍是一位温文尔雅 、 礼貌可嘉的守旧派的贵妇人.
2. She gave me the like cue to the gentlewoman.
她给了我相似的线索,叫我到那位太太那里去.
3. No one could spot a gentlewoman quicker than Father Ralph.
没有一个人能象拉尔夫神父那样快地击中女人的要害.
4. The little gentlewoman might set up for herself if she pleased.
这位小贵妇人如果高兴,现在可以自立门户了.
5. A young gentlewoman without visible relations had always struck her as a flower without foliage.