gentle nor simple

English

Adjective

gentle nor simple (not comparable)

1. (archaic, of a negated noun) Of any social standing.
   • 1820, Fanny Burney, Cecilia: or, Memoirs of an heiress - Volume 2, page 100:

     Sir, cried the man, equally provoked, this is talking quite out of character ; for as to broken bones, there's ne'er a person in all England, gentle nor simple, can say he's a right to break mine, for I'm not a person of that sort, but a man of as good property as another man; and there's ne'er a customer I have in the world, that's more his own man than myself.

   • 1884, Plutus Adonis, a mythical hero - Volume 2:

     I'm forbid to let anybody in, gentle nor simple, if you please.

Noun

gentle nor simple pl (plural only)

1. (archaic) No one, regardless of social standing.
   • 1888, Thomas Hardy, The Withered Arm:

     The implements of his daily work, which was that of a jobbing gardener, stood in a corner, and seeing probably that she looked rural, he said, 'If you want me to undertake country work I can't come, for I never leave Casterbridge for gentle nor simple -- not I."