Gentlest definition

Gentlest





Home | Index


We love those sites:

1 definition 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]

















Powered by Blog Dictionary [BlogDict]
Kindly supported by Vaffle Invitation Code Get a Freelance Job - Outsource Your Projects | Threadless Coupon
All rights reserved. (2008-2024)