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1

gentile

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noun gen·tile \ˈjen-ˌtī(-ə)l\

Definition of gentile

  1. 1 often capitalized :  a person of a non-Jewish nation or of non-Jewish faith; especially :  a Christian as distinguished from a Jew

  2. 2 :  heathen, pagan

  3. 3 often capitalized :  a non-Mormon

See gentile defined for English-language learners

See gentile defined for kids

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Examples of gentile in a Sentence

  1. a strict sect that believes that fellowship with gentiles should exist only for the purposes of conversion

Origin and Etymology of gentile

Middle English gentyl, gentile — more at 2gentle ◆Historically the same word as 2gentle, with full vowel in the final syllable under influence of the Medieval and Late Latin source word.

gentile Synonyms

Synonyms
heathen, idolater (or idolator), pagan
Related Words
atheist, giaour, infidel, misbeliever, miscreant, nonbeliever, unbeliever; non-Christian, non-Jew, non-Muslim; neo-pagan, polytheist
Near Antonyms
Christian, Jew, Muslim

Other Jewish Religion Terms

Talmud, Zion, challah, dybbuk, kosher, tabernacle, tetragrammaton, yarmulke

2

gentile

adjective gen·tile

Definition of gentile

  1. 1 often capitalized a :  of or relating to the nations at large as distinguished from the Jews; also :  of or relating to Christians as distinguished from the Jewsb :  of or relating to non-Mormons

  2. 2 :  heathen, pagan

  3. 3 [borrowed from Latin gentīlis] :  relating to a tribe or clan

Origin and Etymology of gentile

Middle English gentyl, gentile — more at 1gentle ◆See note at 1gentile.

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

GENTILE Defined for English Language Learners

gentile

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noun

Definition of gentile for English Language Learners

  • : a person who is not Jewish

GENTILE Defined for Kids

1

gentile

play
noun , often cap gen·tile \ˈjen-ˌtīl\

Definition of gentile for Students

  1. :  a person who is not Jewish

2

gentile

play
adjective , often cap gen·tile

Definition of gentile for Students

  1. :  of or relating to people who are not Jewish

Learn More about gentile

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gentile Spanish Central: Translation of gentile Nglish: Translation of gentile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gentile for Arabic speakers

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Examples: gentile in a Sentence