"A real gentleman"

[Second Summer]

What do people mean by the term "gentleman"? I have a vague idea, but I don't think we have a similar term in Norwegian, so the meaning isn't completely obvious to me. Is this term still relevant in this day and age, or has it become obsolete? Who best examplifies "a real gentleman"?

 

[Blobbenstein]

well, often it is just a polite word for a man. Used by shop assistants, and other people who professionally deal with the public.

 

[Blobbenstein]

other than that, I suppose it is a mostly gentle man, who is honourable in his dealings with people.

 

[Spang]

I refer to dudes as gentlemen when I'm trying to be more professional.

 

[Clueless Git]

The root of the word is based on the difference between gentle and weak, IS.

Kinda like a man who restrains himself from doing what he is capable of doing out of consideration for others.

 

[Amy SF]

I interpret a gentleman as somebody who is kind, courteous and considerate, someone who has good manners. More broadly, I suppose a gentleman would be a fine upstanding human being. In Yiddish, a similar word would be mensch, although that word applies to both genders equally. In English, lady would be applied to such females, as in, "She's a really fine lady."

 

[Mischief]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentleman