Nobleman
'nəʊbəlmən
Definitions
A man belonging to the noble class, often possessing high social standing, wealth, and land ownership.
'nəʊbəlmən
A man belonging to the nobility.
The nobleman hosted lavish banquets at his estate.
💡 Simply: Imagine a fancy, rich guy with a title like 'Lord' or 'Duke'. That's a nobleman. They usually had big houses and lots of power back in the day.
👶 For kids: A nobleman is a special grown-up man who comes from a rich and important family.
More Examples
Many noblemen served as advisors to the king.
The artist painted a portrait of the nobleman in his finest attire.
How It's Used
"In medieval times, noblemen held significant power and land."
"The novel featured a cast of noblemen and women, involved in political intrigue."
Idioms & expressions
noblesse oblige
The inferred responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and kindness towards those less fortunate.
"Believing in noblesse oblige, the wealthy family funded several charitable organizations."
From Middle English *noble man*, from Old French *noble homme* ('noble man'), equivalent to noble + man. The term's usage reflects historical feudal systems and social hierarchies.
The term 'nobleman' was extensively used in historical accounts, literature, and legal documents, particularly during the medieval and early modern periods when feudal systems and aristocratic rule were prevalent.
Memory tip
Think of the 'noble' part as indicating high status and the 'man' part as specifying the gender.
Word Origin
"of high social rank or quality"