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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.


First Known Use: 14th century

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.


First Known Use: 15th century

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