gentleman-commoner

American  

[jen-tl-muhn-kom-uh-ner] / ˈdʒɛn tl mənˈkɒm ə nər /

noun

gentlemen-commoners plural

1. (formerly) a member of a class of commoners enjoying special privileges at Oxford University.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• gentlemen-commoners
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gentleman-commoner

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

At the age of fifteen he was entered as a gentleman-commoner at Christchurch, Oxford.

From Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 3 A series of pen and pencil sketches of the lives of more than 200 of the most prominent personages in History by Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)

You know I lead no life of self-indulgence; and the necessary expenses, even as a gentleman-commoner, are less than you would suppose, unless you had tried matters as closely as I have.”

From Tales from Blackwood Volume 4 by Various

Gibbon, who was a gentleman-commoner of Magdalen College, a few years before my time, declared himself a catholic before his twentieth year.

From Four Years in France or, Narrative of an English Family's Residence there during that Period; Preceded by some Account of the Conversion of the Author to the Catholic Faith by Beste, Henry Digby

Then among other of her devotees were Norris, the singer, and Mr. Watts, a rich gentleman-commoner, who had also met her at Oxford.

From The Wits and Beaux of Society Volume 2 by Wharton, Philip

“Have you any idea who that fresh gentleman-commoner is?” said I to Savile, who was sitting next to me at dinner, one day soon after the beginning of term.

From Tales from Blackwood Volume 4 by Various