gentrice, n. and a. Obs. exc. arch. (Sc.)
Forms: 3–6 gent(e)ris(e, 4–6 gentryce, -s(e, (4 gentiresse, 5 gentriose, gentrys(s, 6 gentre(i)s, gentriss, 7 gentryes), 4– gentrice.
[ad. OF. genterise, var. of gentelise, f. gentil gentle.]
A. n.
1. Gentle birth, noble descent or rank.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1313 He adde reuþe of him & uor is gentrise Hadde is pes wiþ þemperour. c 1300 Seyn Julian 52 And þench on hire heie kunne; and hire owe gentrise. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 4806 He spared na man of gentryse. 1893 Stevenson Catriona 154 He supposed I would set up to be gentry..‘My gentrice has nothing to do with where I lie’, said I. |
b. concr. Nobility, nobles; also, splendid attire.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1159 Þe gentryse of Iuise & Iherusalem þe ryche Watz disstryed with distres. c 1650 Sir Lambewell 461 in Furniv. Percy Folio I. 159 Every man had greet desire ffor to behold their gentryes. |
2. Gentle or honourable feeling; kindness, generosity, clemency, courtesy.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 168 We wulleð folewen þe iðe muchele genterise of þine largesse. c 1300 Cursor M. 28940 (Cott. Galba) Þis ‘gentrise’ will vs lede Till doghty at do oure almus dede. c 1375 Barbour Troy-bk. i. 319 The noble kinge, þat neuir-mare Forȝ het walde hys Inborne gentryce. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 370 It is not my counsall..To do ȝow in his gentrise. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxi. 26 All gentrice and nobilitie Ar passit out of he degre. c 1565 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (1728) 44 Humbly..to render himself—in his [the king's] hands, will and gentrice. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scotl. x. 327 Steirit vp thair hartes meikle to that gentrise. |
3. Gentility, good breeding.
| 1824 Scott Redgauntlet Let. xi, That may come of idleness as weel as gentrice. |
B. adj. a. Of gentle birth. b. Genteel, elegant.
| 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 69 My self suld be full semlie with silkis arrayit; Gymp, jolie, and gent, richt joyous, and gentryce. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) iv. 81 Moir gentrice is to jott Vndir ane silkin goun Nor ane quhyt pittecott And reddyar ay boun. 1894 Crockett Raiders 165 ‘We're honest, honest—and gentrice to the back o' that’. |