Definition of gentry

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gen·try    (jntr) KEY 

NOUN:
pl. gen·tries

1. People of gentle birth, good breeding, or high social position.
2. 1. An upper or ruling class.
   2. The class of English landowners ranking just below the nobility.
3. People of a particular class or group: another commuter from the suburban gentry.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English gentri, nobility of birth, from Old French genterie, variant of genterise, gentilise, from gentil, noble ; see gentle