genteel

Universal Words adjective (sometimes disapproving) 1 (of people and their way of life) quiet and polite, often in an exaggerated way; from, or pretending to be from, a high social class: a genteel manner / upbringing * Her genteel accent irritated me. * He lived in genteel poverty (= trying to keep the style of a high social class, but with little money). 2 (of places) quiet and old-fashioned and perhaps slightly boring genteelly adverb