gentle Definition

gentle
adj gentler, gentlest

1. Mild-mannered, not stern, coarse or violent.

Thesaurus: kindly, tender, considerate, benign, amiable, compassionate, humane, lenient, sweet-tempered; refined, courteous, civilized, cultured, educated, elegant, genteel, polished.
2. Light and soft; not harsh, loud, strong, etc.

Example: a gentle caress
Example: a gentle breeze
Thesaurus: soft, smooth, moderate, balmy, clement, pacific, peaceful, placid, serene, soothing, temperate; Antonym: rough.
3. Moderate; mild.

Example: a gentle reprimand
4. Said of hills, etc: rising gradually.
5. old use
Noble; of the upper classes.
Thesaurus: well-born, blue-blooded, aristocratic, noble; Antonym: crude.

noun gentles

1. A soft maggot used as bait by anglers.
2. old use
Gentlefolk.
Form: gentles

Derivative: gentleness
noun

Derivative: gently
adverb

Etymology: 13c in sense 5; 16c and 17c in the other senses: from French gentil well-bred.