Main Entry:

¹gen·tle

Pronunciation:

\ˈjen-t^əl\

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

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

Etymology:

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

Date:

13th century

1 a: belonging to a family of high social station barchaic : 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 station2 a: tractable, docile b: free from harshness, sternness, or violence3: soft, delicate4: moderate

— gent·ly \ˈjent-lē\ adverb