noblesse o·blige ( -bl zh )n. Benevolent, honorable behavior considered to be the responsibility of persons of high birth or rank. [French, nobility is an obligation : noblesse, nobility + oblige, third person sing. present tense of obliger, to obligate.] |
noblesse oblige [nəʊˈblɛs əʊˈbliːʒ (French) nɔblɛs ɔbliʒ]
n
Often ironic the supposed obligation of nobility to be honourable and generous
[French, literally: nobility obliges]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | noblesse oblige - the obligation of those of high rank to be honorable and generous (often used ironically) duty, obligation, responsibility - the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force; "we must instill a sense of duty in our children"; "every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty"- John D.Rockefeller Jr French - the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France |
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