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gen⋅tle

  [jen-tl] adjective, -tler, -tlest, verb, -tled, -tling.
Use gently in a Sentence
–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 gēns) 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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To gently
gen·tle   (jěn'tl)   
adj.   gen·tler, gen·tlest
  1. Considerate or kindly in disposition; amiable and tender.
  2. Not harsh or severe; mild and soft: a gentle scolding; a gentle tapping at the window.
  3. Easily managed or handled; docile: a gentle horse.
  4. 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.
  6. Archaic Noble; chivalrous: a gentle knight.
n.   Archaic
One of good birth or relatively high station.
tr.v.   gen·tled, gen·tling, gen·tles
  1. To make less severe or intense: The peaceful sunset gentled her dreadful mood.
  2. To soothe, as by stroking; pacify.
  3. To tame or break (a domestic animal, for instance): gentle a horse.
  4. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Gently

Gen"tly\, adv. In a gentle manner.

My mistress gently chides the fault I made. --Dryden.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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