gentle

[jen-tl] /ˈdʒɛn tl/
adjective, gentler, gentlest.
1.
kindly; amiable:
a gentle manner.
2.
not severe, rough, or violent; mild:
a gentle wind; a gentle tap on the shoulder.
3.
moderate:
gentle heat.
4.
gradual:
a gentle slope.
5.
of good birth or family; wellborn.
6.
characteristic of good birth; honorable; respectable:
a gentle upbringing.
7.
easily handled or managed; tractable:
a gentle animal.
8.
soft or low:
a gentle sound.
9.
polite; refined:
Consider, gentle reader, my terrible predicament at this juncture.
10.
entitled to a coat of arms; armigerous.
11.
Archaic. noble; chivalrous:
a gentle knight.
verb (used with object), gentled, gentling.
12.
to tame; render tractable.
13.
to mollify; calm; pacify.
14.
to make gentle.
15.
to stroke; soothe by petting.
16.
to ennoble; dignify.
Origin
1175-1225; Middle English gentle, gentil(e) < Old French gentil highborn, noble < Latin gentīlis belonging to the same family, equivalent to gent- (stem of gēns) gens + -īlis -le
Related forms
gentleness, noun
gently, adverb
overgentle, adjective
overgently, adverb
ungentle, adjective
ungentleness, noun
ungently, adverb
Synonyms
1. clement, peaceful, pacific, soothing; tender, humane, lenient, merciful. Gentle, meek, mild refer to an absence of bad temper or belligerence. Gentle has reference especially to disposition and behavior, and often suggests a deliberate or voluntary kindness or forbearance in dealing with others: a gentle pat; gentle with children. Meek implies a submissive spirit, and may even indicate undue submission in the face of insult or injustice: meek and even servile or weak. Mild suggests absence of harshness or severity, rather because of natural character or temperament than conscious choice: a mild rebuke; a mild manner. 3. temperate. 5. noble. 7. manageable, docile, tame, quiet. 9. courteous; polished.
Antonyms
1. harsh, cruel. 2. violent, sudden. 7. wild, unruly.
Examples from the web for gentle
  • We might serve it in some kind of gentle broth with home-grown shiitake mushrooms and daikon.
  • It is life changing to witness first hand the intelligence and gentle nature of the orangutans.
  • Above all else, be kind and gentle and understanding toward yourself.
  • To achieve the same end one also should be kind and gentle to others.
  • Nature is supposed to be red in tooth and claw, and domestication an artificial process for making animals gentle.
  • Everything about her is delicate: her smile, her gentle manner, and her soft voice.
  • The donor dog was chosen for his gentle nature and unique coat color.
  • Maybe, as the study results suggest, mothers have a special gift for giving that kind of gentle company.
  • Their poignant experiences are a gentle reminder of what matters at the end of the day.
  • The latest addition to its list of goodies is a hydrotherapy tub stimulating the feeling of lying in a gentle creek.
British Dictionary definitions for gentle

gentle

/ˈdʒɛntəl/
adjective
1.
having a mild or kindly nature or character
2.
soft or temperate; mild; moderate: a gentle scolding
3.
gradual: a gentle slope
4.
easily controlled; tame: a gentle horse
5.
(archaic) of good breeding; noble: gentle blood
6.
(archaic) gallant; chivalrous
verb (transitive)
7.
to tame or subdue (a horse)
8.
to appease or mollify
9.
(obsolete) to ennoble or dignify
noun
10.
a maggot, esp when used as bait in fishing
11.
(archaic) a person who is of good breeding
Derived Forms
gently, adverb
Word Origin
C13: from Old French gentil noble, from Latin gentīlis belonging to the same family; see gens
Word Origin and History for gentle
adj.

early 13c., "well-born," from Old French gentil "high-born, noble, of good family" (11c., in Modern French "nice, graceful, pleasing; fine pretty"), from Latin gentilis "of the same family or clan," from gens (genitive gentis) "race, clan," from root of gignere "beget," from PIE root *gen- "produce" (see genus). Sense of "gracious, kind" (now obsolete) first recorded late 13c.; that of "mild, tender" is 1550s. Older sense remains in gentleman.