gentile English · revision 977

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈd͡ʒɛntaɪl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|gentil]],^(AHD) [[bor|la-ecc|gentīlis|t=foreign, pagan]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[la|gentīlis|t=of the same family or clan]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from ''gēns'' “race, clan”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) In the Vulgate the Latin plural ''gentīlēs'' translated Greek ''tà éthnē'' “the nations”, itself a translation of Hebrew ''ha-gōyīm'' “the (non-Jewish) nations”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who is not a Christian, a pagan (before 1382);^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) one who is not a Jew (about 1384–1400).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Through the biblical translation the word came to mean a person of a non-Jewish nation or faith, especially a Christian as distinguished from a Jew.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989) The sense “heathen, pagan” is now obsolete or rare.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) Among Mormons, a ''Gentile'' is anyone outside the Mormon community (1861).^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) From classical Latin come the senses “of a nation or tribe” (1513) and, in grammar, “indicating nationality or locality” (1818).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1382 – a pagan.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1384 – one who is not a Jew.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1513 – adjective, of a nation or tribe.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1818 – in grammar, expressing nationality.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1861 – a non-Mormon.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(often capitalized)'' A person who is not Jewish, especially a Christian as distinguished from a Jew.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(often capitalized)'' Among [[Mormon|alt=Mormons]], a person who is not a Mormon.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A [[heathen]] or [[pagan]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to Gentiles.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of or relating to a [[gens]], tribe or people.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Expressing national or local origin.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[genteel]]

+ * [[gentle]]

+ * [[gens]]

+ * [[goy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}