gentleman friend
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of gentleman friend
An Americanism dating back to 1820–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Victorian times if a young woman saw a gentleman friend, she would have to take the initiative and offer her hand.
From The Guardian ● May 31, 2018
There must be lots of sixtysomething women in L.A. who would like a gentleman friend for going to plays and musicals.
From Slate ● Feb. 22, 2017
"Your gentleman friend, your lover? He has seen stars fall to dust. You might as well flirt with a mountain range."
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2014
Robert asks Strallan not to pursue Edith, but she defies her father and ends up engaged to her older gentleman friend, giving hope to all the sad Lady Ediths of the world.
From Time ● Jan. 7, 2013
That his intentions were honorable and that he himself was certainly worthy of the doctor’s consideration as a gentleman friend for Miss Foster since, at twenty-five, he was already a colored man of property.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
