gentle Hear it!

gentle Definition

gen·tle (jent′'l)

adjective -·tler, -·tlest

  1. belonging to the upper classes or polite society
  2. like or suitable to polite society; refined, courteous, etc.
  3. Archaic noble; chivalrous a gentle knight
  4. generous; kind gentle reader
  5. easily handled; tame a gentle dog
  6. kindly; serene; patient a gentle disposition
  7. not violent, harsh, or rough a gentle tap, a gentle rebuke
  8. gradual a gentle slope

Etymology: ME gentil < OFr, of noble birth < L gentilis, of the same gens (in LL, of a good family) < gens: see gens

noun

Archaic a person of the upper classes

transitive verb -·tled, -·tling

  1. Rare to make gentle, mild, or pleasant
  2. to tame or train (a horse)
  3. to calm or soothe as by stroking
  4. Obsolete to raise to the social status of a gentleman

gentle Related Forms
gen′·tle·ness noun
gentle Idioms

the gentle craft

or the gentle art
  1. fishing
  2. Obsolete shoemaking
gentle Synonyms

gentle

modif.

  1. Soft

    mild, moderate, tender, soothing; see faint 3, mild 2, soft 2, 3.

  2. Kind

    tender, considerate, benign, sensitive; see kind 1.

  3. Tamed

    domesticated, tame, docile, broken, housebroken, disciplined, educated, trained, cowed, civilized, tractable, pliable, taught, cultivated, obedient to the rein.

    Antonyms wild*, savage*, untamed.

  4. Well-born

    highbred, blue-blooded, aristocratic; see noble 3, refined 2. See syn. study at soft.

gentle Usage Examples

Preposition: into

  • night: This is one child who is not letting their parent go gentle into that good night.

Preposition: as

  • lamb: As he took this resolution the horse suddenly pulled short, poised at the cliff edge, now as gentle as a lamb.

Modifies a noun

  • breeze: Down here in the garden there was only a gentle breeze, just enough to rustle the rhododendron bushes.
  • slope: The Village of Braemar Coming up a gentle slope the road enters the village itself.
  • persuasion: Together, in our play, we will be gentle persuasion.
  • stroll: The routes vary from gentle strolls to full day hikes at high altitude.
  • giant: Neville is in the tradition of gentle giants of the keyboard.
  • reminder: Let his presence with you by his Spirit be a gentle reminder that every penny you have at your disposal really belongs to him.

Modifying Another Word

  • deceptively: The route between Confluencia and Base Camp is certainly interesting and the start is deceptively gentle.
  • fairly: At first we walked on smooth wide paths up through a fairly gentle foothill zone, with steps carved into steeper places.
  • exceptionally: It was fair comment in the context of the exceptionally gentle policing, code-named Operation Harmony.
  • relatively: What to wear One of the many pleasures of the South East is its relatively gentle climate.
  • very: She smiled, even, was very gentle, very much at peace.
  • quite: Even quite gentle green exercise can improve your health.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: A naughty boy seems very gentle when with his father.
  • go: I decide I shall not go gentle into that good old people's home.
  • become: Instead of becoming harsh and severe and bitter, he had become more gentle, more kindly.
  • use: Emollients should be applied frequently, using gentle, downward strokes to prevent folliculitis.
  • start: When you are comfortable doing this you can start gentle running and stretching.
  • offer: The Bay of Golkoy faces north and thus offers gentle cooling breezes throughout the summer.
gentle Quotes

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

—Thomas, Dylan Marlais

The gentle and respectful ways of saying 'To hell with you'are being abandoned.

—Fergusson, Robert

Far may be sought Erst that ye can find So courteous, so kind, As Merry Margaret, This midsummer flower, Gentle as falcon Or hawk of the tower.

—Skelton,John

The gentle mind by gentle deeds is known. For a man by nothing is so well bewrayed, As by his manners.

—Spenser, Edmund

O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme! Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull, Strong without rage, without o'erflowing full.

—Denham, SirJohn

   They flee from me, that sometime did me seek, With naked foot, stalking in my chamber. I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek, That now are wild, and do not remember That sometime they put themselves in danger To take bread at my hand; and now they range, Busily seeking with a continual change.

—Wyatt, SirThomas (the Elder)