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gentile Definition

gen·tile (jen′tīl′)

noun

  1. any person not a Jew; often, specif., a Christian
  2. Historical among Christians, a heathen or pagan
  3. ☆ among Mormons, any person not a Mormon

Etymology: < Fr & L; Fr gentil < L gentilis, of the same gens, clan, or race, also, foreigner (in opposition to Roman), in LL(Ec), pagan, heathen (in opposition to Jew and Christian): see gentle

adjective

  1. not Jewish
  2. heathen; pagan
  3. ☆ not Mormon
  4. of a clan, tribe, or nation
  5. Gram. designating a nationality or country “French” is a gentile adjective

gentile Synonyms

gentile

n.

heathen, non-Jew, non-Mormon; see Christian. See syn. study at pagan.

gentile Usage Examples

Preposition: into

  • church: He had also known personally God's guidance in regard to accepting the first gentiles into the church.

Converse of object

  • convert: Thankful to be rid of him the leaders of the Jerusalem Church allowed him to go on his self appointed mission to convert gentiles.
  • admit: James is stating unequivocally that it is wrong to admit gentiles into the church contrary to the law.
  • exclude: What was abolished were the ceremonial laws which excluded the gentiles from being the people of God.
  • think: I do not think that gentiles tend to do so either.

Adjective modifier

  • righteous: The conception Jesus had was that righteous gentiles would come to the Jerusalem of God's Kingdom in supplication.

Modifies a noun

  • bishop: What we have about Jesus has been highly colored by the gentile bishops.
  • convert: To achieve his ambition Paul wanted the requirements of the Mosaic Law to be eased for his gentile converts.
  • believer: So the new gentile believers are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Noun used with modifier

  • contra: He finished the Summa contra gentiles, wrote various disputed questions and began the Summa theologiae.
gentile Quotes

In our lore, the Jewish family was an inviolate haven against every formof menace, frompersonal isolationto gentile hostility. Regardless of internal friction and strife, it was assumed to be an indissoluble consolidation† Family indivisibility, the first commandment.

—Roth, Philip Milton