I. ˈjen.ˌtīl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English gentil, gentile, from Late Latin gentilis foreigner, heathen, from Latin, member of the same family or gens, fellow countryman, from gentilis, adjective
1.
a. often capitalized : a person of a non-Jewish nation or of non-Jewish faith ; especially : a Christian as distinguished from a Jew — used especially by Jews
b. : heathen , pagan
earnest exhortations to the gentiles — David Daiches
c. often capitalized , among the Mormons : a non-Mormon
2. : a word denoting country, race, or nationality
3.
[Latin gentilis ]
in Roman law : a member of the same Roman gens
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English gentil, gentile, from Late Latin gentilis foreign, heathen, from Latin, of the same clan or family, of the same nation — more at gentle
1. often capitalized
a. : belonging to the nations at large as distinguished from the Jews ; also : belonging or relating to Christians as distinguished from the Jews
b. : belonging or relating to non-Mormons
2. : pagan , heathen
3.
[Latin gentilis ]
: relating to a tribe or clan
the science of gentile or tribal society — Benjamin Farrington
4. : denoting a people or country : gentilic
Canadian and Irish are gentile nouns