distinguished (/prominent/notable) families; gentility ? 這位小說(shuō)家不是出身于～，但他對(duì)當(dāng)時(shí)英國(guó)上流社會(huì)的生活卻頗為熟悉。This novelist did not come from a notable family,but he was quite familiar with the life of high society in England at that time.