Inflected forms: gen·tler, gen·tlest 1. Considerate or kindly in disposition; amiable and tender. 2. Not harsh or severe; mild and soft: a gentle scolding; a gentle tapping at the window.3. Easily managed or handled; docile: a gentle horse.4. Not steep or sudden; gradual: a gentle incline.5a. 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.6.Archaic Noble; chivalrous: a gentle knight.
NOUN:
Archaic One of good birth or relatively high station.
TRANSITIVE VERB:
Inflected forms: gen·tled, gen·tling, gen·tles 1. To make less severe or intense: The peaceful sunset gentled her dreadful mood.2. To soothe, as by stroking; pacify. 3. To tame or break (a domestic animal, for instance): gentle a horse.4. To raise to the status of a noble.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English gentil, courteous, noble, from Old French, from Latin gentlis, of the same clan, from gns, gent-, clan. See gen- in Appendix I.
j
n
tl
lis, of the same clan, from g
ns, gent-, clan. See gen
- in Appendix I.
