Noun:

1. the most powerful members of a society

aristocracyn.贵族；贵族阶级

upper class上流社会

nobilityn.贵族；高尚

eliten.精英adj.精英的；优秀的

ruling class统治阶级

1. The English gentry is next below the nobility.
   英国绅士的地位仅次于贵族。
2. The peasants' revolt disturbed the gentry's sweet dreams.
   农民在乡里造反，搅动了绅士们的酣梦。
3. In the Eighteenth Century, the clergy, like the nobility and gentry, often rode to hounds.
   在18世纪，神职人员跟贵族和上流社会人士一样，常常骑马打猎。
4. In old society, the gentry lived in luxury.
   在旧社会，贵族们生活奢侈。
5. She was an old woman who for twenty years had brought the neighbouring gentry into the world.
   她是个上了年纪的女人，二十年来，邻近的许许多多上层社会的绅士们都是由她接生的。