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gentle

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gentle


  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Gentle  \Gen"tle\,  a.  [Compar.  {Gentler};  superl.  {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. 
 
  {The  gentle  craft},  the  art  or  trade  of  shoemaking. 
 
  Syn:  Mild;  meek;  placid;  dovelike;  quiet;  peaceful;  pacific; 
  bland;  soft;  tame;  tractable;  docile. 
 
  Usage:  {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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Gentle  \Gen"tle\,  n. 
  1.  One  well  born;  a  gentleman.  [Obs.] 
 
  Gentles,  methinks  you  frown.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  A  trained  falcon.  See  {Falcon-gentil}. 
 
  3.  (Zo["o]l.)  A  dipterous  larva  used  as  fish  bait. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Gentle  \Gent"le\,  v.  t. 
  1.  To  make  genteel;  to  raise  from  the  vulgar;  to  ennoble. 
  [Obs.]  --Shak. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  gentle 
  adj  1:  soft  and  mild;  not  harsh  or  stern  or  severe;  "a  gentle 
  reprimand";  "a  vein  of  gentle  irony";  "poked  gentle 
  fun  at  him" 
  2:  having  or  showing  a  kindly  or  tender  nature;  "the  gentle 
  touch  of  her  hand";  "her  gentle  manner  was  comforting";  "a 
  gentle  sensitive  nature";  "gentle  blue  eyes" 
  3:  quiet  and  soothing;  "a  gentle  voice";  "a  gentle  nocturne" 
  4:  belonging  to  or  characteristic  of  the  nobility  or 
  aristocracy;  "an  aristocratic  family";  "aristocratic 
  Bostonians";  "aristocratic  government";  "a  blue  family"; 
  "blue  blood";  "the  blue-blooded  aristocracy";  "of  gentle 
  blood";  "patrician  landholders  of  the  American  South"; 
  "aristocratic  bearing";  "aristocratic  features"; 
  "patrician  tastes"  [syn:  {aristocratic},  {aristocratical}, 
  {blue},  {blue-blooded},  {patrician}] 
  5:  easily  handled  or  managed;  "a  gentle  old  horse,  docile  and 
  obedient"  [syn:  {docile}] 
  6:  having  little  impact;  "an  easy  pat  on  the  shoulder";  "gentle 
  rain";  "a  gentle  breeze";  "a  soft  (or  light)  tapping  at 
  the  window"  [syn:  {easy},  {soft}] 
  7:  marked  by  moderate  steepness;  "an  easy  climb";  "a  gentle 
  slope"  [syn:  {easy}] 
  v  1:  cause  to  be  more  favorably  inclined;  gain  the  good  will  of 
  "She  managed  to  mollify  her  angry  boss"  [syn:  {pacify}, 
  {lenify},  {conciliate},  {assuage},  {appease},  {mollify}, 
  {placate},  {gruntle}] 
  2:  give  a  title  to  someone  make  someone  a  member  of  the 
  nobility  [syn:  {ennoble},  {entitle}] 
  3:  stroke  soothingly 




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