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. -- 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 ]

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 ]

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. ]

/mhw>, n. pl. Persons of gentle or good family and breeding. [ Generally in the United States in the plural form. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a kind or gentle disposition. Shak. -- Gen"tle-heart`ed*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

n.; pl. Gentlemen [ OE. gentilman nobleman; gentil noble + man man; cf. F. gentilhomme. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A man well born; one of good family; one above the condition of a yeoman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of gentle or refined manners; a well-bred man. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) One who bears arms, but has no title. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The servant of a man of rank. [ 1913 Webster ]

The count's gentleman, one Cesario. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A man, irrespective of condition; -- used esp. in the plural (= citizens; people), in addressing men in popular assemblies, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In Great Britain, the term gentleman is applied in a limited sense to those having coats of arms, but who are without a title, and, in this sense, gentlemen hold a middle rank between the nobility and yeomanry. In a more extended sense, it includes every man above the rank of yeoman, comprehending the nobility. In the United States, the term is applied to men of education and good breeding of every occupation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gentleman commoner, one of the highest class of commoners at the University of Oxford. --
Gentleman usher, one who ushers visitors into the presence of a sovereign, etc. --
Gentleman usher of the black rod, an usher belonging to the Order of the Garter, whose chief duty is to serve as official messenger of the House of Lords. --
Gentlemen-at-arms, a band of forty gentlemen who attend the sovereign on state occasions; formerly called gentlemen pensioners. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The qualities or condition of a gentleman. [ R. ] Thackeray.

n. The state of being gentlemanly; gentlemanly conduct or manners. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of, pertaining to, resembling, or becoming, a gentleman; befitting a man of good breeding; well-behaved; courteous; polite; as, gentlemanly behavior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The carriage or quality of a gentleman. [ 1913 Webster ]