gen·tle /ˈʤɛntḷ/
(a.)有禮貌的,文雅的;柔和的,和緩的;出身高貴的
Gen·tle a. [Compar. Gentler superl. Gentlest ]
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.”
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.”
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.
Gen·tle, n.
1. One well born; a gentleman. [Obs.]
Gentles, methinks you frown. --Shak.
2. A trained falcon. See Falcon-gentil.
3. Zool. A dipterous larva used as fish bait.
Gent·le, v. t.
1. To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar; to ennoble. [Obs.]
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.]
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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 the angry customer" [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