adjective
debonair
deb-uh-NAIR/ˌdebəˈner/
Confident, charming, and stylish in manner or appearance.
The debonair man tips his hat with relaxed confidence.
Etymology
“Of good lineage” originally described thoroughbred hawks. Applied to people, it suggested courteous, gentle manners, later developing the light-hearted affability behind today's charming, polished manner.
In context
His universal success in such matters helped to give him an easy debonair manner which was in itself winning. So physically complete a youth has always a charm.
More examples
- He looked debonair in the well-cut suit.
- Her portrait captured his debonair smile.
- The actor played a debonair traveler who never seemed flustered.
Forms
debonair · more debonair · most debonair