gen·tle
(jĕńtl)
[Middle English gentil, courteous, noble, from Old French, from Latin gentīlis, of the same clan, from gēns, gent-, clan.]
adjective: -tler, -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.
- Of good family; wellborn: a child of gentle birth.
- Suited to one of good breeding; refined and polite: a gentle greeting to a stranger.
- Archaic Noble; chivalrous: a gentle knight.
noun
Archaic- One of good birth or relatively high station.
transitive verb: -tled, -tling, -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.
derivatives
- geńtle·ness
- noun
- geńtly
- adverb
