gentle English · revision 7088

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1225|origins=la gens}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈd͡ʒɛn.tl̩/; /ˈd͡ʒɛn.tl̩/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English gentil, [[bor|fro|gentil|t=high-born, noble]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|gentilis|t=of the same family or clan]], from [[m|la|gens|t=race, clan]] (genitive gentis), from the root of gignere, to beget,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) from PIE [[ine-pro|*ǵenh₁-|alt=*gene-|t=to give birth, beget]].^(Etymonline) [[genteel|alt=Genteel]] is the same word borrowed again from French, and [[gentile]] an alternative form.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Well-born, of noble family: before 1225 in the OED, probably before 1200 in Barnhart, the early 13th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense developed into having the manners of one of noble birth.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) Gracious, kind, is from about 1280,^(Barnhart 1988) courteous from the late 13th century,^(Etymonline) and graceful or beautiful from about 1300.^(Etymonline) Tame or domesticated is from the 15th century,^(Hoad 1986) and mild, tender, not harsh, of animals, things and persons, from the 1550s.^(Etymonline) In Middle English gentle sometimes meant pagan.^(Etymonline) Of places haunted by fairies it is from 1823.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The older sense survives in [[gentleman]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1225 – well-born.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1280 – kind, gracious.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – graceful.^(Etymonline)

+ * 15th century – tame.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1550s – mild, not harsh.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1823 – haunted by fairies.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Kind, mild and tender in manner; not harsh or violent.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Moderate; not strong or intense: ''a gentle breeze''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Gradual; not steep: ''a gentle slope''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Of good family; well-born.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make calm or tame.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gentleness]]

+ * [[gently]]

+ * [[gentlefolk]]

+ * [[gentleman]]

+ * [[gentleperson]]

+ * [[gentlewoman]]

+ * [[overgentle]]

+ * [[ungentle]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[genteel]]

+ * [[gentile]]

+ * [[gentry]]

+ * [[genus]]

+ * [[gender]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}