gentle

¹gen·tle

adjective \ˈjen-t^əl\

gen·tler \ˈjent-lər, -t^əl-ər\ gen·tlest \ˈjent-ləst, -t^əl-əst\

Definition of GENTLE

1

a : belonging to a family of high social station

b archaic : chivalrous

c : honorable, distinguished; specifically : of or relating to a gentleman

d : kind, amiable —used especially in address as a complimentary epithet <gentle reader>

e : suited to a person of high social station

2

a : tractable, docile

b : free from harshness, sternness, or violence

3

: soft, delicate

4

: moderate

— gent·ly \ˈjent-lē\ adverb

Examples of GENTLE

1. a dog that is gentle with children
2. Your mother has a gentle manner.
3. a gentle sense of humor
4. I heard a gentle knock at the door.
5. It's a delicate problem that requires gentle handling.
6. The job requires a gentle touch.
7. The cold snap was a gentle reminder that winter was coming.

Origin of GENTLE

Middle English gentil, from Anglo-French, from Latin gentilis of a gens, of one's family, from gent-, gens gens, nation; akin to Latin gignere to beget — more at kin

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to GENTLE

Synonyms

balmy, benign, bland, delicate, light, mellow, mild, nonabrasive, soft, soothing, tender

Antonyms

abrasive, caustic, coarse, hard, harsh, rough, scathing, stern, ungentle

Related Words

calm, pacific, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, tranquil; clement, compassionate, easy, lenient, merciful; buffering, cushioning, emollient, softening; sleek, slick, smooth

Near Antonyms

exquisite, fierce, intense, powerful, severe; forceful, forcible, savage, violent; roughened, rugged, strong; abrading, irritating, roughening; grim, gruff, rude, stiff; heavy-handed, oppressive, pitiless, tyrannical (also tyrannic)

Rhymes with GENTLE

cental, dental, dentil, lentil, mental, rental

²gentle

noun

Definition of GENTLE

: a person of gentle birth or status

Examples of GENTLE

1. <the archbishop treated both the gentles and the commoners with respect and kindness>

First Known Use of GENTLE

14th century

Related to GENTLE

Synonyms

aristocrat, blue blood, gentleperson, noble, patrician

Related Words

socialite, swell; magnate, magnifico, mogul, nabob; gentlefolk (also gentlefolks)

Near Antonyms

canaille, commoner, pleb, plebeian, proletarian, roturier; boor, fellah, peasant, peon

Rhymes with GENTLE

dental, mental, rental

³gentle

verb

gen·tledgen·tling \ˈjent-liŋ, ˈjen-t^əl-iŋ\

Definition of GENTLE

transitive verb

1

: to raise from the commonalty : ennoble

2

a : to make gentler

b : to make (an animal) tame and docile

c : mollify, placate

d : to stroke soothingly : pet

intransitive verb

: to become gentle <the wind gentled>

Examples of GENTLE

1. <employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day>
2. <soothingly gentled his cat's head as she was being treated by the vet>

First Known Use of GENTLE

14th century

Related to GENTLE

Synonyms

appease, assuage, conciliate, disarm, pacify, mollify, placate, propitiate

Antonyms

anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, ire, madden, outrage

Related Words

calm, comfort, console, content, hush, quiet, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize); endear (to), ingratiate; delight, gladden, gratify, please; adulate, blarney, flatter, overpraise, soft-soap; quench, sate, satiate, satisfy; cater (to), humor, indulge; blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle; baby, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil; dulcify, sweeten

Near Antonyms

aggravate, annoy, antagonize, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, put out, rankle, rile, roil, ruffle, vex; provoke, rouse; harass, harry, persecute, pester; agitate, discomfort, distress, disturb, fret, perturb, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry; affront, insult, offend, slight