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gentle definition

gen·tle (jent′'l)

adjective gentler -·tler, gentlest -·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 gentled -·tled, gentling -·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

Related Forms:

gentle Idioms

the gentle craft

or the gentle art
  1. fishing
  2. Obsolete shoemaking

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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.

Modifying Another Word

  • deceptively: The route between Confluencia and Base Camp is certainly interesting and the start is deceptively gentle.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: A naughty boy seems very gentle when with his father.
gentle usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

gentle quotes

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

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

gentle quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"gentle." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/gentle>

APA Style

gentle. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/gentle

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