GENTLE • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Gentle

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/dʒˈɛntəl/ /dʒˈɛnəl/ Listen

adjective

Gentle adj. (compar. gentler; superl. gentlest)

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." "The studies wherein our noble and gentle youth ought to bestow their time."

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."

The gentle craft, the art or trade of shoemaking.

Synonyms: 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.

noun

Gentle n.

1.

One well born; a gentleman. (Obs.) "Gentles, methinks you frown."

2.

A trained falcon. See Falcon-gentil.

3.

(Zool.) A dipterous larva used as fish bait.

verb

Gentle v. t.

1.

To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar; to ennoble. (Obs.)

2.

To make smooth, cozy, or agreeable. (R. or Poet.) "To gentle life's descent, We shut our eyes, and think it is a plain."

3.

To make kind and docile, as a horse. (Colloq.)

See images of 'Gentle'

Etymology of 'Gentle'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Gentle" Quotes from Famous Books

... mother was the driver that day. We reached the bank. Carefully, with steady, dainty steps, head proudly raised, she slowly took us down that steep bank and across the river bringing us safely upon the other side. I say she, for so much depended upon her, for her good mate was always gentle. Fully she seemed to realize the situation and fully demonstrated her love, and realized the responsibility placed upon her one mate. Just before entering Winnebago we met a company of ten mounted men going to the help of the three men we had left. They returned that day accompanied by father ...

— Old Rail Fence Corners - The A. B. C's. of Minnesota History • Various

... 23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; ...

— The Book Of Mormon - An Account Written By The Hand Of Mormon Upon Plates Taken - From The Plates Of Nephi • Anonymous

... generally out of sight, and works under galleries constructed by night to screen them from the observation of birds. At some given signal, however, I never could ascertain what, they rush out by hundreds, and the sound of their mandibles cutting grass into lengths may be heard like a gentle wind murmuring through the leaves of the trees. They drag these pieces to the doors of their abodes, and after some hours' toil leave off work, and many of the bits of grass may be seen collected around the orifice. They continue out ...

— Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa - Journeys and Researches in South Africa • David Livingstone

... gorges to the lowlands of the coast. This false tableland is conspicuous in the valley of the Upper Burdekin River on the east coast, and on the head waters of the Fitzroy, The country drained by the top tributaries of these rivers being only divided from the real tableland by a gentle ascent, whereas the descent to the coast is steep and abrupt. Most of the northern rivers, too, take their rise in a plateau that is almost on a level with the great plain, but cut their way down to the sea through gorges, instead of being lost in ...

— The History of Australian Exploration from 1788 to 1888 • Ernest Favenc

... gentle slope, through a young growth of pines and cedars to a small meadow. The grass had been eaten short to the soil and trampled by many little hoofs. Thorne walked to the upper end of the meadow. Here he found old ashes. Satisfied with his discoveries, he glanced ...

— The Rules of the Game • Stewart Edward White

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