different between airy vs debonair

English

Etymology

air +? -y

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /????.i/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /????.i/
• Rhymes: -???i

Adjective

airy (comparative airier, superlative airiest)

1. Consisting of air.

   an airy substance; the airy parts of bodies

2. Relating or belonging to air; high in air; aerial.

   an airy flight

3. Open to a free current of air; exposed to the air; breezy.

   an airy situation

4. Resembling air; thin; unsubstantial; not material; airlike.
5. Relating to the spirit or soul; delicate; graceful.

   airy music

6. Not based on reality; having no solid foundation

   Synonyms: empty, trifling, visionary
7. light-hearted; vivacious

   Synonyms: sprightly, flippant, superficial

8. Having an affected manner; being in the habit of putting on airs; affectedly grand.
9. (painting) Having the light and aerial tints true to nature.
10. (of a room or building) Spacious, well lit, well ventilated.

Synonyms

• (consisting of air): aereous
• (resembling air): aereous; See also Thesaurus:insubstantial or Thesaurus:gaseous
• (relating to the spirit or soul): ethereal
• (not based on reality): empty, trifling, visionary
• (light-hearted; vivacious): flippant, sprightly, superficial; See also Thesaurus:active or Thesaurus:carefree
• (having an affected manner): See also Thesaurus:arrogant

Translations

Anagrams

• Iyar, Riya, Yair, yari

English

Alternative forms

• debonaire, debonnaire

Etymology

Old French debonaire, from the phrase de bon aire "of good stock, noble".

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d?b??ne?(?)/
• (US) enPR: d?b-?-n?r', IPA^(key): /d?b??n??/

Adjective

debonair (comparative more debonair, superlative most debonair)

1. (obsolete) Gracious, courteous.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.vi:

     Let be that Ladie debonaire, / Thou recreant knight, and soone thy selfe prepaire / To battell [...].

2. Suave, urbane and sophisticated.
3. (especially of men) Charming, confident, and carefully dressed.

Translations

Noun

debonair

1. (obsolete) Debonaire behaviour; graciousness.
   • 1748, Samuel Richardson, Clarissa, Letter 31:

     But yet, shall my vanity extend only to personals, such as the gracefulness of dress, my debonnaire, and my assurance—Self-taught, self-acquired, these!

Anagrams

• diborane