gentry

right|thumb|Cleric, knight, and peasant archetypes represent the virtues of prudence, fortitude, and temperance, respectively. In [[classical antiquity and Christendom, prudence and fortitude were seen as the cardinal virtues that should govern society.]]

Gentry (from Old French , from ) are "well-born, genteel and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past. Gentry, in its widest connotation, refers to people of good social position connected to landed estates (see manorialism), upper levels of the clergy, or long established "gentle" families of noble descent, some of whom in some cases never obtained the official right to bear a coat of arms. The gentry largely consisted of landowners who were supported entirely through rental income or at least had a country estate; some were gentleman farmers.