in this adjective for an elegant & gracious gentleman; it comes from the French for "of good family"
proper name, from French Genevive, from Late Latin Genovefa, .... 
Adjective forms in English included Middle English Genoway (also in plural, 
Janeways), c. ... a reborrowing (with evolved senses) of the French word that had 
early come into ... 1200, perhaps mid-12c., "well-born man, man of good family or 
birth," also... [DOC] [TLE] debonair English definition/translation - seadict.com [PAR] [Middle English debonaire, gracious, kindly, from Old French, from de bon aire, ... 
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: de bonne aire 'of good family or 
nature'] ... 1. having a sophisticated charm; "a debonair gentleman" [syn: 
debonaire, ... adjective 1. a debonair young man suave, urbane, self-assured, 
elegant,... [DOC] [TLE] what does debonaire mean?