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Webster 1913 Edition

Gentle

Gen′tle

,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Gentler
;
sup
erl.
Gentlest
.]
[OE.
gentil
, F.
gentil
noble, pretty, graceful, fr. L.
gentilis
of the same clan or race, fr.
gens
,
gentis
, tribe, clan, race, orig. that which belongs together by birth, fr. the root of
genere
,
gignere
, to beget; hence
gentle
, properly, of birth or family, that is, of good or noble birth. See
Gender
, and cf.
Genteel
,
Gentil
,
Gentile
,
Gentoo
,
Jaunty
.]
1.
Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble.
British society is divided into nobility, gentry, and yeomanry, and families are either noble,
gentle
, or simple.
Johnson’s Cyc.
The studies wherein our noble and
gentle
youth ought to bestow their time.
Milton.
2.
Quiet and refined in manners; not rough, harsh, or stern; mild; meek; bland; amiable; tender;
as, a
gentle
nature, temper, or disposition; a
gentle
manner; a
gentle
address; a
gentle
voice.
3.
A compellative of respect, consideration, or conciliation;
as,
gentle
reader
.
“Gentle sirs.” “Gentle Jew.” “Gentle servant.”
Shak.
4.
Not wild, turbulent, or refractory; quiet and docile; tame; peaceable;
as, a
gentle
horse
.
5.
Soft; not violent or rough; not strong, loud, or disturbing; easy; soothing; pacific;
as, a
gentle
touch; a
gentle
gallop
.
“Gentle music.”
Sir J. Davies.
O sleep! it is a
gentle
thing.
Coleridge.
Syn. – Mild; meek; placid; dovelike; quiet; peaceful; pacific; bland; soft; tame; tractable; docile.
–
Gentle
,
Tame
,
Mild
,
Meek
. Gentle describes the natural disposition; tame, that which is subdued by training; mild implies a temper which is, by nature, not easily provoked; meek, a spirit which has been schooled to mildness by discipline or suffering. The lamb is gentle; the domestic fowl is tame; John, the Apostle, was mild; Moses was meek.

Gen′tle

,
Noun.
1.
One well born; a gentleman.
[Obs.]
Gentles
, methinks you frown.
Shakespeare
2.
A trained falcon. See
Falcon-gentil
.
3.
(Zool.)
A dipterous larva used as fish bait.

Gent′le

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar; to ennoble.
[Obs.]
Shak.
2.
To make smooth, cozy, or agreeable.
[R. or Poet.]
To
gentle
life's descent,
We shut our eyes, and think it is a plain.
Young.

Webster 1828 Edition

Gentle

GEN'TLE

,
Adj.
[See Genteel.] Well born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble; as the studies of noble and gentle youth; gentle blood.
1.
Mild; meek; soft; bland; not rough, harsh or severe; as a gentle nature, temper or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice. 1 Thess. 27. 2 Tim.2.
2.
Tame; peaceable; not wild, turbulent or refractory; as a gentle horse or beast.
3.
Soothing; pacific.
4.
Treating with mildness; not violent.
A gentle hand may lead the elephant with a hair.

GEN'TLE

,
Noun.
A gentleman.
1.
A kind of worm.

GEN'TLE

,
Verb.
T.
To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar.

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