noblesse oblige

noblesse o·blige (

-bl

)

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]

Often ironic the supposed obligation of nobility to be honourable and generous

[French, literally: nobility obliges]

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Noun

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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aristocracy duty French heritage noblesse obligation responsibility	An adventurer like Lemuel Struthers might build up the millions of his Shoe Polish on any number of shady dealings; but unblemished honesty was the noblesse oblige of old financial New York. The Age of Innocence by Wharton, Edith View in context He found, with rare and mythical exceptions, that there was no noblesse oblige among the business and financial supermen. Burning Daylight by London, Jack View in context She picked at the darned table-cloth and went on: "You look as if you knew what isn't snobbery as well as what is; and when I say that ours is a good old family, you'll understand it is a necessary part of the story; indeed, my chief danger is in my brother's high-and-dry notions, noblesse oblige and all that. The Wisdom Of Father Brown by Chesterton, Gilbert K. View in context	Nobelist nobelium Nobert's lines Nobile Nobili's rings nobiliary nobiliary particle Nobilify Nobilitate Nobilitation nobility noble noble art noble cane noble gas noble metal Noble metals noble rot noble savage noble-minded noble-mindedness nobleman nobleness Nobless noblesse noblesse oblige noblewoman Nobley nobly nobody Nobunaga NOC Nocake nocent Nocently nociceptive nociceptor nocireceptor Nocive nock nocking point noct- Noctambulation noctambulism Noctambulist Noctambulo nocti- Noctidial Noctiferous Noctilionid noctiluca	nobleman nobleman nobleman nobleman Noblemen Noblemen Noblemen Noblemen Noblemindedness nobleness nobleness nobleness nobleness nobleness nobler nobler nobler nobler nobler Nobles Nobles Nobles Nobles Nobles Nobles County Nobles County, Minnesota Nobles County, MN Nobless noblesse noblesse noblesse oblige Noblesse obligé Noblesse obligé noblest noblest noblest noblest noblest Noblesville Noblesville Adult Swim Team, Inc Noblesville Elementary Football League Noblesville Girls Softball Association Noblesville High School Noblesville Youth Baseball Noblesville, Indiana noblewoman noblewoman noblewoman noblewoman noblewomen Nobley Noblis oblige Noblis oblige nobly nobly nobly nobly nobly NOBM NOBO NOBO

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aristocracy
duty
French
heritage
noblesse
obligation
responsibility

An adventurer like Lemuel Struthers might build up the millions of his Shoe Polish on any number of shady dealings; but unblemished honesty was the noblesse oblige of old financial New York.

The Age of Innocence by Wharton, Edith View in context

He found, with rare and mythical exceptions, that there was no noblesse oblige among the business and financial supermen.

Burning Daylight by London, Jack View in context

She picked at the darned table-cloth and went on: "You look as if you knew what isn't snobbery as well as what is; and when I say that ours is a good old family, you'll understand it is a necessary part of the story; indeed, my chief danger is in my brother's high-and-dry notions, noblesse oblige and all that.

The Wisdom Of Father Brown by Chesterton, Gilbert K. View in context