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gentle
The definition of gentle is someone with or something done with a calm, soothing and tender manner.
(adjective)An example of gentle is a mother bathing her newborn baby.
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See gentle in Webster's New World College Dictionary
- belonging to the upper classes or polite society
- like or suitable to polite society; refined, courteous, etc.
- Archaic noble; chivalrous: a gentle knight
- generous; kind: gentle reader
- easily handled; tame: a gentle dog
- kindly; serene; patient: a gentle disposition
- not violent, harsh, or rough: a gentle tap, a gentle rebuke
- gradual: a gentle slope
Origin: 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
Related Forms:
- gentleness noun
See gentle in American Heritage Dictionary 4
adjective gen·tler, gen·tlest
- Considerate or kindly in disposition; amiable and tender.
- Not harsh or severe; mild and soft: a gentle scolding; a gentle tapping at the window.
- Easily managed or handled; docile: a gentle horse.
- Not steep or sudden; gradual: a gentle incline.
- a. Of good family; wellborn: a child of gentle birth.b. Suited to one of good breeding; refined and polite: a gentle greeting to a stranger.
- Archaic Noble; chivalrous: a gentle knight.
Archaic
One of good birth or relatively high station.
transitive verb gen·tled, gen·tling, gen·tles - To make less severe or intense: The peaceful sunset gentled her dreadful mood.
- To soothe, as by stroking; pacify.
- To tame or break (a domestic animal, for instance): gentle a horse.
- To raise to the status of a noble.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English gentil, courteous, noble
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Latin gentīlis, of the same clan
Origin: , from gēns, gent-, clan; see genə- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- genˈtle·ness noun
- genˈtly adverb
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