gentleness

[jen-tl]

gen·tle

[jen-tl] adjective, gen·tler, gen·tlest, verb, gen·tled, gen·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.
EXPAND
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.
COLLAPSE
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.

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Gentleness is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English gentle, gentil(e) < Old French gentil highborn, noble < Latin gentīlis belonging to the same family, equivalent to gent- (stem of gēns) gens + -īlis -le

gen·tle·ness, noun
gen·tly, adverb
o·ver·gen·tle, adjective
o·ver·gen·tly, adverb
un·gen·tle, adjective
EXPAND
un·gen·tle·ness, noun
un·gen·t·ly, adverb
COLLAPSE


1. clement, peaceful, pacific, soothing; tender, humane, lenient, merciful. Gentle, meek, mild refer to an absence of bad temper or belligerence. Gentle has reference especially 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.


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

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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World English Dictionary
gentleness (ˈdʒɛntəlnɪs)
 
n
1.  the quality of being gentle
2.  physics See also charm a property of elementary particles, conserved in certain strong interactions

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