[gen.tle] adj gen.tler ; gen.tlest [ME gentil, fr. OF, fr. L gentilis of a gens, of one's family, fr. gent-, gens gens, nation; akin to L gignere to beget--more at kin] (13c) 1 a: belonging to a family of high social station b archaic: chivalrous c: honorable, distinguished; specif: of or relating to a gentleman d: kind, amiable--used esp. in address as a complimentary epithet "~ reader" e: suited to a person of high social station
2. a: tractable, docile b: free from harshness, sternness, or violence
3: soft, delicate
4: moderate -- gent.ly adv
[2]gentle n (14c): a person of gentle birth or status [3]gentle vb gen.tled ; gen.tling vt (14c) 1: to raise from the commonalty: ennoble
2. a: to make gentler b: to make (an animal) tame and docile c: mollify, placate d: to stroke soothingly: pet ~ vi: to become gentle "the wind gentled"