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. -- 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.
Gen"tle, n. 1. One
well born; a gentleman. [Obs.]
Gentles, methinks you frown.
Shak.
2. A trained falcon. See Falcon-
gentil.
3. (Zoöl.) A dipterous larva used
as fish bait.
Gent"le, v. t. 1.
To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar; to ennoble.
[Obs.] Shak.
2. To make smooth, cozy, or agreeable.
[R. or Poet.]
To gentle life's descent,
We shut our eyes, and think it is a plain.
Young.
3. To make kind and docile, as a horse.
[Colloq.]
