debonairness

deb·o·nair

also deb·o·naire  (dĕb′ə-nâr′)

adj.

1. Sophisticated; urbane.

2. Gracious and charming in a cheerful, carefree way.

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[Middle English debonaire, gracious, kindly, from Old French, from de bon aire, of good lineage or disposition : de, of (from Latin dē; see de-) + bon, bonne, good (from Latin bonus; see deu- in Indo-European roots) + aire, nest, family; see aerie.]

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deb′o·nair′ly adv.

deb′o·nair′ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.