gentle
adjective
[ ˈdʒɛnt(ə)l ]
• having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character.
• "a gentle, sensitive man"
Similar:
kind,
kindly,
tender,
benign,
humane,
lenient,
merciful,
forgiving,
forbearing,
sympathetic,
considerate,
understanding,
clement,
compassionate,
benevolent,
kind-hearted,
tender-hearted,
good-natured,
sweet-tempered,
loving,
mild,
soft,
quiet,
shy,
demure,
modest,
humble,
retiring,
unassuming,
still,
tranquil,
peaceful,
peaceable,
pacific,
placid,
serene,
reposeful,
reverent,
meek,
docile,
lamblike,
dove-like,
• moderate in action, effect, or degree; not strong or violent.
• "take some gentle exercise"
• (of a person) noble or having the qualities attributed to noble birth; courteous and chivalrous.
Similar:
aristocratic,
noble,
titled,
upper-class,
blue-blooded,
high-born,
well born,
patrician,
elite,
silver-spoon,
posh,
upper-crust,
upmarket,
top-drawer,
gentle
verb
• make or become gentle.
• "Cobb's tone gentled a little"
Origin:
Middle English: from Old French gentil ‘high-born, noble’, from Latin gentilis ‘of the same clan’ (see gentile). The original sense was ‘nobly born’, hence ‘courteous, chivalrous’, later ‘mild, moderate in action or disposition’ (mid 16th century).
gentle
noun
• a maggot, especially the larva of a blowfly, used as bait.
Origin:
late 16th century: probably from an obsolete sense of the adjective, ‘soft, pliant’.
