2. The quality or qualities appropriate to those who are well born, as self-respect, dignity, courage, courtesy,
politeness of manner, a graceful and easy mien and behavior, etc.; good breeding.
3. The class in society who are, or are expected to be, genteel; the gentry. [R.] Sir J. Davies.
4. Paganism; heathenism. [Obs.] Hooker.
Gentilize
(Gen"til*ize) v. i. [See Gentile.]
1. To live like a gentile or heathen. [Obs.] Milton.
2. To act the gentleman; — with it [Obs.]
Gentilize
(Gen"til*ize), v. i. To render gentile or gentlemanly; as, to gentilize your unworthy sones. [R.]
Sylvester.
Gentilly
(Gen"til*ly) adv. [From Gentil, a.] In a gentle or hoble manner; frankly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Gentiopikrin
(Gen`ti*o*pi"krin) n. [Gentian + Gr. bitter.] (Chem.) A bitter, yellow, crystalline substance,
regarded as a glucoside, and obtained from the gentian.
Gentisin
(Gen"ti*sin) n. (Chem.) A tasteless, yellow, crystalline substance, obtained from the gentian; —
called also gentianin.
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.
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.
