gentleman-commoner

[ jen-tl-muhn-kom-uh-ner ]

noun

, plural gen·tle·men-com·mon·ers.

1. (formerly) a member of a class of commoners enjoying special privileges at Oxford University.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentleman-commoner¹

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

Gibbon, who was a gentleman-commoner of Magdalen College, a few years before my time, declared himself a catholic before his twentieth year.

From Project Gutenberg

I. "Have you any idea who that fresh gentleman-commoner is?" said I to Savile, who was sitting next to me at dinner, one day soon after the beginning of term.

From Project Gutenberg

But Russell was a gentleman-commoner, and a man who had evidently seen something of the world; a rich man, and apparently by no means of the character fitted for a recluse.

From Project Gutenberg

My father, as I dare say you know, is pretty well known as the head of the firm of Russell and Smith: he passes for a rich man, of course; he was a rich man, I believe, once; and I, his only son and heir—brought up as I was to look upon money as a plaything—I was sent to college of course as a gentleman-commoner.

From Project Gutenberg

I told you, I entered here as a gentleman-commoner; my father came down to Oxford with me, chose my rooms, sent down this furniture and these paintings from town—thank Heaven, I knew not what they cost—ordered a couple of hunters and a groom for me—those I stopped from coming down—and, in fact, made every preparation for me to commence my career with credit as to heir-apparent to a large fortune.

From Project Gutenberg