Result from Foreign Dictionaries (4 entries found)

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: 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. [1913 Webster] British society is divided into nobility, gentry, and yeomanry, and families are either noble, gentle, or simple. --Johnson's Cyc. [1913 Webster] The studies wherein our noble and gentle youth ought to bestow their time. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 3. A compellative of respect, consideration, or conciliation; as, gentle reader. "Gentle sirs." "Gentle Jew." "Gentle servant." --Shak. [1913 Webster] 4. Not wild, turbulent, or refractory; quiet and docile; tame; peaceable; as, a gentle horse. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] O sleep! it is a gentle thing. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster] {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. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Gentle \Gen"tle\, n. 1. One well born; a gentleman. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Gentles, methinks you frown. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. A trained falcon. See {Falcon-gentil}. [1913 Webster] 3. (Zool.) A dipterous larva used as fish bait. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Gentle \Gent"le\, v. t. 1. To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar; to ennoble. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To make smooth, cozy, or agreeable. [R. or Poet.] [1913 Webster] To gentle life's descent, We shut our eyes, and think it is a plain. --Young. [1913 Webster] 3. To make kind and docile, as a horse. [Colloq.] Gentlefolk From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [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" [syn: {gentle}, {soft}] 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}, {gentle}, {patrician}] 5: easily handled or managed; "a gentle old horse, docile and obedient" [syn: {docile}, {gentle}] 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}, {gentle}, {soft}] 7: marked by moderate steepness; "an easy climb"; "a gentle slope" [syn: {easy}, {gentle}] v 1: cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of; "She managed to mollify the angry customer" [syn: {pacify}, {lenify}, {conciliate}, {assuage}, {appease}, {mollify}, {placate}, {gentle}, {gruntle}] 2: give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility [syn: {ennoble}, {gentle}, {entitle}] 3: stroke soothingly