Lexic.us

Definition of Gentle

1. Adjective. Soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe. "Poked gentle fun at him"

2. Verb. Cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of. "The performance is likely to gentle Sue"; "She managed to mollify the angry customer"

3. Adjective. Having or showing a kindly or tender nature. "Gentle blue eyes"

4. Verb. Give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility.

5. Adjective. Quiet and soothing. "A gentle nocturne"

6. Verb. Stroke soothingly.

7. Adjective. Belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy. "Patrician tastes"

8. Adjective. Easily handled or managed. "A gentle old horse, docile and obedient"

9. Adjective. Having little impact. "A soft (or light) tapping at the window"

10. Adjective. Marked by moderate steepness. "A gentle slope"

Definition of Gentle

1. a. Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble.

2. n. One well born; a gentleman.

3. v. t. To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar; to ennoble.

Definition of Gentle

1. Adjective. Tender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly disposition ¹

2. Adjective. Soft and mild rather than hard or severe ¹

3. Adjective. Docile and easily managed ¹

4. Adjective. Gradual rather than steep or sudden ¹

5. Adjective. Polite and respectful rather than rude ¹

6. Verb. (intransitive) to become gentle (rfex) ¹

7. Verb. (transitive) to ennoble (rfex) ¹

8. Verb. (transitive animal husbandry) to break; to tame; to domesticate (rfex) ¹

9. Verb. (transitive) To soothe; to calm. (rfex) ¹

10. Noun. (archaic) A person of high birth. (rfex) ¹

11. Noun. (archaic) A maggot used as bait by anglers (rfex) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Gentle

1. mild [v -TLED, -TLING, -TLES] - See also: mild

Medical Definition of Gentle

1. 1. Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble. "British society is divided into nobility, gentry, and yeomanry, and families are either noble, gentle, or simple." (Johnson's Cyc) "The studies wherein our noble and gentle youth ought to bestow their time." (Milton) 2. Quiet and refined in manners; not rough, harsh, or stern; mild; meek; bland; amiable; tender; as, a gentle nature, temper, or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice. 3. A compellative of respect, consideration, or conciliation; as, gentle reader. "Gentle sirs." "Gentle Jew." "Gentle servant." 4. Not wild, turbulent, or refractory; quiet and docile; tame; peaceable; as, a gentle horse. 5. Soft; not violent or rough; not strong, loud, or disturbing; easy; soothing; pacific; as, a gentle touch; a gentle gallop. "Gentle music." "O sleep! it is a gentle thing." (Coleridge) The gentle craft, the art or trade of shoemaking. Synonym: Mild, meek, placid, dovelike, quiet, peaceful, pacific, bland, soft, tame, tractable, docile. Gentle, Tame, Mild, Meek. Gentle describes the natural disposition; tame, that which is subdued by training; mild implies a temper which is, by nature, not easily provoked; meek, a spirit which has been schooled to mildness by discipline or suffering. The lamb is gentle; the domestic fowl is tame; John, the Apostle, was mild; Moses was meek. Origin: OE. Gentil, F. Gentil noble, pretty, graceful, fr. L. Gentilis of the same clan or race, fr. Gens, gentis, tribe, clan, race, orig. That which belongs together by birth, fr. The root of genere, gignere, to beget; hence gentle, properly, of birth or family, that is, of good or noble birth. See Gender, and cf. Genteel, Gentil, Gentile, Gentoo, Jaunty. 1. One well born; a gentleman. "Gentles, methinks you frown." 2. A trained falcon. See Falcon-gentil. 3. A dipterous larva used as fish bait. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Gentle

gentilish gentilism gentilities gentility gentilize gentilized gentilizes gentilizing gentilly gentiobiase

gentiobiose gentiopicrin gentiopikrin gentisic acid gentisin gentle (current term) gentle-hearted gentle breeze gentle wind gentled

gentlefolk gentlefolks gentleladies gentlelady gentleman gentleman's-cane gentleman's agreement gentleman's bet gentleman's gentleman gentleman-at-arms

Literary usage of Gentle

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Evangeline by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1886)
"The charm in reading Evangeline aloud, after a clear understanding of the sense, which is the essential in all good reading, is found in this gentle labor ..."

Other Resources: