The term gentleman (from Latin gentilis, belonging to a race or "gens", and "man", cognate with the French word gentilhomme, the Spanish gentilhombre, and the Italian gentil uomo or gentiluomo), in its original and strict signification, denoted a man of good family, the Latin generosus (its invariable translation in English-Latin documents). In this sense the word equates with the French gentilhomme (nobleman), which latter term was in Great Britain long confined to the peerage. The term "gentry" (from the Old French genterise for gentelise) has much of the social class significance of the French noblesse or of the German Adel, but without the strict technical requirements of those traditions (such as quarters of nobility). This was what the rebels under John Ball in the 14th century meant when they repeated:

When Adam delved and Eve span,
Who was then the Gentleman? ^*

John Selden in Titles of Honour, (1614), discussing the title "gentleman", speaks of "our English use of it" as "convertible with nobilis" (an ambiguous word, like 'noble' meaning elevated either by rank or by personal qualities) and describes in connection with it the forms of ennobling in various European countries.

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Officer and a Gentleman, An - Twitter Search

Louis Kim wrote a new blog post: Officer and a Gentleman, An: Louis Kim wrote a new blog post: Officer and a Gentle... http://bit.ly/7NwQY2
Microbloghost (Microblog) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:25:34 -0000
Louis Kim wrote a new blog post: Officer and a Gentleman, An: Louis Kim wrote a new blog post: Officer and a Gentle... http://bit.ly/7NwQY2
Movie Inglourious Basterds and Officer and a Gentleman, An http://ur.ly/3PXx?zm46 #music
charletljol (Andrea Cookeot) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:42:49 -0000
Movie Inglourious Basterds and Officer and a Gentleman, An http://ur.ly/3PXx?zm46 #music
@Dreamoutloud Is that said like in AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN? "Way to go, Paula!"
jeremygaffer (jeremygaffer) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:29:35 -0000
@Dreamoutloud Is that said like in AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN? "Way to go, Paula!"
Fact: #Jaws3 was Louis Gossett Jr.'s follow up to "An Officer and a Gentleman."
bradwoolf (Brad Woolf) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:42:46 -0000
Fact: #Jaws3 was Louis Gossett Jr.'s follow up to "An Officer and a Gentleman."
Acted in "An Officer and a Gentleman"-HACRIDR REEG Answer: http://trivtweet.com/a.php?c=8F48
trivtweet (trivtweet.com) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:24:00 -0000
Acted in "An Officer and a Gentleman"-HACRIDR REEG Answer: http://trivtweet.com/a.php?c=8F48
PICS: Dirty Money x Rick Ross – Angels Remix (Video Stills): An officer and a gentleman. Spotted @ 57thA.. http://bit.ly/4H6dmr
hoodhollywood (BronxRap.com) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:04:06 -0000
PICS: Dirty Money x Rick Ross – Angels Remix (Video Stills): An officer and a gentleman. Spotted @ 57thA.. http://bit.ly/4H6dmr

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