I. ˈjen-t ə l adjective
( gen·tler ˈjent-lər, -t ə l-ər ; gen·tlest ˈjent-ləst, -t ə l-əst)
Etymology: Middle English gentil, from Anglo-French, from Latin gentilis of a gens, of one's family, from gent-, gens gens, nation; akin to Latin gignere to beget — more at kin
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : belonging to a family of high social station
b. archaic : chivalrous
c. : honorable , distinguished ; specifically : of or relating to a gentleman
d. : kind , amiable — used especially in address as a complimentary epithet
gentle 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 ˈjent-lē adverb
II. noun
Date: 14th century
: a person of gentle birth or status
III. verb
( gen·tled ; gen·tling ˈjent-liŋ, ˈjen-t ə l-iŋ)
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
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
intransitive verb
: to become gentle
the wind gentled