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gentle

7 dictionary results for: gentle

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

gen·tle

[jen-tl] Pronunciation Key adjective, -tler, -tlest, verb, -tled, -tling.

–adjective

1.	kindly; amiable: a gentle manner.

2.	not severe, rough, or violent; mild: a gentle wind; a gentle tap on the shoulder.

3.	moderate: gentle heat.

4.	gradual: a gentle slope.

5.	of good birth or family; wellborn.

6.	characteristic of good birth; honorable; respectable: a gentle upbringing.

7.	easily handled or managed; tractable: a gentle animal.

8.	soft or low: a gentle sound.

9.	polite; refined: Consider, gentle reader, my terrible predicament at this juncture.

10.	entitled to a coat of arms; armigerous.

11.	Archaic. noble; chivalrous: a gentle knight.

–verb (used with object)

12.	to tame; render tractable.

13.	to mollify; calm; pacify.

14.	to make gentle.

15.	to stroke; soothe by petting.

16.	to ennoble; dignify.

[Origin: 1175–1225; ME gentle, gentil(e) < OF gentil highborn, noble < L gentīlis belonging to the same family, equiv. to gent- (s. of géns) gens + -īlis -le

]

—Related forms

gen·tle·ness, noun

gently, adverb

—Synonyms 1. clement, peaceful, pacific, soothing; tender, humane, lenient, merciful. Gentle, meek, mild refer to an absence of bad temper or belligerence. Gentle has reference esp. to disposition and behavior, and often suggests a deliberate or voluntary kindness or forbearance in dealing with others: a gentle pat; gentle with children. Meek implies a submissive spirit, and may even indicate undue submission in the face of insult or injustice: meek and even servile or weak. Mild suggests absence of harshness or severity, rather because of natural character or temperament than conscious choice: a mild rebuke; a mild manner. 3. temperate. 5. noble. 7. manageable, docile, tame, quiet. 9. courteous; polished.

—Antonyms 1. harsh, cruel. 2. violent, sudden. 7. wild, unruly.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

gen·tle (jěn'tl) Pronunciation Key
adj. gen·tler, gen·tlest

Considerate or kindly in disposition; amiable and tender.
Not harsh or severe; mild and soft: a gentle scolding; a gentle tapping at the window.
Easily managed or handled; docile: a gentle horse.
Not steep or sudden; gradual: a gentle incline.
1. Of good family; wellborn: a child of gentle birth.
2. Suited to one of good breeding; refined and polite: a gentle greeting to a stranger.
Archaic Noble; chivalrous: a gentle knight.

n. Archaic
One of good birth or relatively high station.

tr.v. gen·tled, gen·tling, gen·tles

To make less severe or intense: The peaceful sunset gentled her dreadful mood.
To soothe, as by stroking; pacify.
To tame or break (a domestic animal, for instance): gentle a horse.
To raise to the status of a noble.

[Middle English gentil, courteous, noble, from Old French, from Latin gentīlis, of the same clan, from gēns, gent-, clan; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]

gen'tle·ness n., gen'tly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
gentle

c.1225, from O.Fr. gentil "high-born, noble," from L. gentilis "of the same family or clan," from gens (gen. gentis) "race, clan," from root of gignere "beget" (see kin), from PIE base *gen- "produce." Sense of "gracious, kind" (now obsolete) first recorded c.1280; that of "mild, tender" is 1552. Older sense remains in gentleman "well-born man" (c.1275). Gentleman's agreement is first attested 1929.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

gentle
adjective
1.	soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe; "a gentle reprimand"; "a vein of gentle irony"; "poked gentle fun at him"
2.	having or showing a kindly or tender nature; "the gentle touch of her hand"; "her gentle manner was comforting"; "a gentle sensitive nature"; "gentle blue eyes"
3.	quiet and soothing; "a gentle voice"; "a gentle nocturne"
4.	belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy; "an aristocratic family"; "aristocratic Bostonians"; "aristocratic government"; "a blue family"; "blue blood"; "the blue-blooded aristocracy"; "of gentle blood"; "patrician landholders of the American South"; "aristocratic bearing"; "aristocratic features"; "patrician tastes" [syn: aristocratic]
5.	easily handled or managed; "a gentle old horse, docile and obedient" [syn: docile]
6.	having little impact; "an easy pat on the shoulder"; "gentle rain"; "a gentle breeze"; "a soft (or light) tapping at the window" [syn: easy]
7.	marked by moderate steepness; "an easy climb"; "a gentle slope" [syn: easy]
verb
1.	cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of; "She managed to mollify the angry customer" [syn: pacify]
2.	give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility [syn: ennoble]
3.	stroke soothingly

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gentle

Gen"tle\, a. [Compar. Gentler; superl. Gentlest.] [OE. gentil, F. gentil noble, pretty, graceful, fr. L. gentilis of the same clan or race, fr. gens, gentis, tribe, clan, race, orig. that which belongs together by birth, fr. the root of genere, gignere, to beget; hence gentle, properly, of birth or family, that is, of good or noble birth. See Gender, and cf. Genteel, Gentil, Gentile, Gentoo, Jaunty.]

1. Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble.

British society is divided into nobility, gentry, and yeomanry, and families are either noble, gentle, or simple. --Johnson's Cyc.

The studies wherein our noble and gentle youth ought to bestow their time. --Milton.

2. Quiet and refined in manners; not rough, harsh, or stern; mild; meek; bland; amiable; tender; as, a gentle nature, temper, or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice.

3. A compellative of respect, consideration, or conciliation; as, gentle reader. "Gentle sirs." "Gentle Jew." "Gentle servant." --Shak.

4. Not wild, turbulent, or refractory; quiet and docile; tame; peaceable; as, a gentle horse.

5. Soft; not violent or rough; not strong, loud, or disturbing; easy; soothing; pacific; as, a gentle touch; a gentle gallop . "Gentle music." --Sir J. Davies.

O sleep! it is a gentle thing. --Coleridge.

The gentle craft, the art or trade of shoemaking.

Syn: Mild; meek; placid; dovelike; quiet; peaceful; pacific; bland; soft; tame; tractable; docile.

Usage: Gentle, Tame, Mild, Meek. Gentle describes the natural disposition; tame, that which is subdued by training; mild implies a temper which is, by nature, not easily provoked; meek, a spirit which has been schooled to mildness by discipline or suffering. The lamb is gentle; the domestic fowl is tame; John, the Apostle, was mild; Moses was meek.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gentle

Gen"tle\, n. 1. One well born; a gentleman. [Obs.]

Gentles, methinks you frown. --Shak.

2. A trained falcon. See Falcon-gentil.

3. (Zo["o]l.) A dipterous larva used as fish bait.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Gentle

Gent"le\, v. t. 1. To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar; to ennoble. [Obs.] --Shak.

2. To make smooth, cozy, or agreeable. [R. or Poet.]