gentle

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈd͡ʒɛntl̩/ UK /ˈdʒɛntl̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #3106

Meanings

1

adj
Kind, calm, and careful, not rough or violent.

The nurse had a gentle way of talking to frightened patients.
2

adj
Soft and mild rather than strong or harsh.

A gentle breeze moved through the trees.
3

adj
Gradual rather than steep or sudden.

We climbed a gentle slope to reach the village.
4

adj
Easy to handle or control; not aggressive.

The pony is gentle enough for young children to ride.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

4 adj · easy to handle or control;... docile

More friendly kind polite respectful

Opposites

rude

Word family

Forms gentlergentlest

Derived forms flower-gentlegentillygentle-handedgentle-heartedgentle-heartedlygentle-heartednessgentlebeinggentlefolk gentlefolksgentlegirlgentleheartedgentlehood

Appears in

Phrases (3)

See all

gentle kiss
a soft, tender kiss

Adjective + noun
gentle knock
a quiet, light knock on a door

Adjective + noun
gentle walking
slow, easy walking suitable for recovery or relaxation

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Gentle comes from Latin gentilis, “of a family or nation” or “of the same clan,” which derives from gens, “family, race.” Its original English sense was “nobly born,” from which developed “courteous” and “chivalrous,” the idea behind gentleman. Genteel and gentile share the same Latin source.

Etymology

From Middle English gentil (“courteous, noble”), from Old French gentil (“high-born, noble”), from Latin gentilis (“of the same family or clan”), from gens (“[Roman] clan”). Doublet of gentile, genteel, and jaunty.

*ǵenh₁- Proto-Indo-European gentil Middle English gentilis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# gentle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈd͡ʒɛntl̩/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdʒɛntl̩/
**Frequency rank:** 3106

## Meanings
1. Kind, calm, and careful, not rough or violent.
2. Soft and mild rather than strong or harsh.
3. Gradual rather than steep or sudden.
4. Easy to handle or control; not aggressive.

## Examples
- The nurse had a gentle way of talking to frightened patients.
- A gentle breeze moved through the trees.
- We climbed a gentle slope to reach the village.
- The pony is gentle enough for young children to ride.

## Synonyms
- friendly
- kind
- polite
- respectful

## Antonyms
- rude

## Derived Forms
- flower-gentle
- gentilly
- gentle-handed
- gentle-hearted
- gentle-heartedly
- gentle-heartedness
- gentlebeing
- gentlefolk
- gentlefolks
- gentlegirl
- gentlehearted
- gentlehood

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ǵenh₁-
- Root: gentil
- Root: gentilis

## Etymology
From Middle English gentil (“courteous, noble”), from Old French gentil (“high-born, noble”), from Latin gentilis (“of the same family or clan”), from gens (“[Roman] clan”). Doublet of gentile, genteel, and jaunty.

## AI Etymology
Gentle comes from Middle English gentil (“courteous, noble”), from Old French gentil (“high-born, noble”), from Latin gentilis (“of the same family or clan”), from gens (“[Roman] clan”). Doublet of gentile, genteel, and jaunty. In current use, the main senses are “Kind, calm, and careful, not rough or violent” and “Soft and mild rather than strong or harsh”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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