gently

adverb

gent·​ly ˈjentlē 

-li

: in a gentle manner: such as

a(1)

: nobly, honorably

hated women gently born

—John Masefield

(2)

: courteously, softly, elegantly

gently mannered family

—G. B. Shaw

a gently spoken young man

(3)

: in an atmosphere of elegance or refinement : with much attention to good manners or deportment

gently bred people who had never been forced to face much unpleasantness in the world

—J. R. Chamberlain

public schools were not to be considered for a gently bred young girl

—Maude Couch

b(1)

: quietly, gradually, slowly

the wind whistling gently

parkland that lifts gently toward rolling hills

—Frederick Nebel

sway gently back and forth

—Fred Zimmer

the slide in industrial production will continue gently

—D. M. Keezer

the trout is gently boiled

—Jane Nickerson

(2)

: easy entry 2

for the first two weeks I took things gently

—Linguaphone Magazine

c

: with gentleness : mildly, tenderly

humorous and gently satiric verses

—Encyclopedia Americana

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gentilly, from gentil gentle + -ly

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Rhymes for gently

• intently