Gentility.

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Merriam – Webster gives the following meanings for the word Gentility.

1 a : the condition of belonging to the gentry
b : gentlefolk, gentry
2 a (1) : decorum of conduct : courtesy (2) : attitudes or activity marked by false delicacy, prudery, or affectation
b : superior social status or prestige evidenced by manners, possessions, or mode of life.

My brother Barath, on his return to the UK after the recent family reunion at Chennai in the South of India, concluded his group mail with this comment.

“All in all, what a trip and thank you all for making it so joyous. I am a very very lucky man to have you all in my life. Hope to bring Annie next year to let her taste your gentility.”

Being very mischievous, I wondered if he meant 2 a (2)!

But to give him the benefit of the doubt, I decided that he meant all the others and I sought the reason for that particular choice of characteristic of the behaviour he saw.

No brainer at all. Bar four seniors in their eighties and one 97 year old sage who we met to take blessings from, and the very few second and third generation family, our interactions were with a whole lot of people in their mid to late sixties, I being the eldest at 70.

None of us have any interest in being anything but gentle. Or should I say, we have no choice in the matter?

Which brings me to the image at the beginning of this post. I am not paid to do this review, but I think that since most of my readers are bloggers too, this e-book will be of interest in a very genteel way.

23 thoughts on “Gentility.”

  1. Thesaurus defines it as Elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression which was exactly how I would have described how I was treated, and hence your mischievousness will have to remain a Rajgopaul trait!

  2. Anyone can be nice. Many people have good manners. But gentility is that rare kind of graciousness that is handed down from one elegant generation to the next.
    Grannymar recently posted..Strength

  3. “None of us have any interest in being anything but gentle.” I smiled at that. Might as well make a virtue of our decling energy. My husband often says, “If I were younger I would work up a towering rage about that. But I just don’t have the energy anymore.” 🙂
    cheerful monk recently posted..Energy

    1. Exactly the point that I was making CM. Old age has made a virtue out of necessity. Otherwise, that bunch was a collection of rambunctious rascals.

  4. There is no female equivalent of “Gentleman” ? Is it a purely male trait ? “Lady” is not quite same , methinks ! But no doubt I shall soon find out ! My Mischievous Monday Musing !

      1. Grannymar : I am fully aware of the toast and have used it myself many a time . However …….the question still remains !

  5. I like grannymar’s definition. but I laughed at yours… ‘no choice in the matter.’
    I have always thought gentility is also perhaps grace. or graciousness under any circumstances.
    tammy j recently posted..eddie slam dunks

    1. Max, I not only found my elder sibling to be gentle, the whole lot that I met in Chennai were so as well. It is difficult to express in writing the warmth you are wrapped in when you visit Chennai, but it makes me quite nostalgic when I leave Madras as that kind of welcome is rarely experienced elsewhere.

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