I'd always kind of assumed it meant something similar to being catapulted up to a higher station in life...gentry was where you landed, so to speak. It sounds silly now, lol.
Indeed, "landed" means having an estate in land (according to my dictionary) and now I see that landed gentry is someone of high rank...who owns land.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-11 05:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-11 09:44 pm (UTC)Indeed, "landed" means having an estate in land (according to my dictionary) and now I see that landed gentry is someone of high rank...who owns land.
I feel so much smarter now.
no subject
Date: 2006-06-11 10:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-11 11:27 pm (UTC)