gentle
gen·tle [gentle gentles gentled gentling gentler gentlest] BrE [ˈdʒentl] NAmE [ˈdʒentl] adjective (gent·lerBrE [ˈdʒentlə(r)] ; NAmE [ˈdʒentlər] gent·lestBrE [ˈdʒentlɪst] ; NAmE [ˈdʒentlɪst] )
1. calm and kind; doing things in a quiet and careful way
•a quiet and gentle man
•a gentle voice/laugh/touch
• She was the gentlest of nurses.
• He lived in a gentler age than ours.
•Be gentle with her!
•She agreed to come, after a little gentle persuasion.
•He looks scary but he's really a gentle giant.
2. (of weather, temperature, etc.)not strong or extreme
•a gentle breeze
•the gentle swell of the sea
• Cook over a gentle heat.
3. having only a small effect; not strong or violent
• We went for a gentle stroll.
•a little gentle exercise
• This soap is very gentle on the hands.
4. not steep or sharp
•a gentle slope/curve/angle
see also ↑gently
Derived Word: ↑gentleness
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French gentil ‘high-born, noble’, from Latin gentilis ‘of the same clan’, from gens, gent- ‘family, race’, from the root of gignere ‘beget’. The original sense was ‘nobly born’, hence ‘courteous, chivalrous’, later ‘mild, moderate in action or disposition’ (mid 16th cent.).
Thesaurus:
gentle adj.
1.
•Be gentle with her!
•He's such a sweet, gentle man.
sensitive • • sympathetic • • understanding • • compassionate • • humane • |sometimes disapproving soft •
Opp: rough
gentle/sensitive/sympathetic/understanding/compassionate towards sb
a gentle/sensitive/sympathetic/compassionate/humane manner/man
(in) a gentle/sensitive/sympathetic/compassionate/humane way
2.
•Cook over a gentle heat.
light • • mild •
Opp: vigorous
(a) gentle/light breeze/wind/rain
gentle/light work/exercise
a light/mild punishment
Gentle, light or mild? Gentle is used especially to describe weather, temperature, work and exercise. Light is used especially to describe weather, work, exercise and punishments. Mild is used especially to describe weather, diseases, drugs, criticism and punishment.
Example Bank:
•She was very gentle with the children.
•The new treatments are gentle on your hair.
•‘Don't worry, just relax,’ Louise's voice was gentle.
•He looks scary, but he's really a gentle giant.
•He was a young man with a quiet, gentle manner.
•She agreed to come, after a little gentle persuasion.
•The professor gave a gentle smile.
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