English word gentle comes from Latin gens, Latin -ilem, and later Old French (842-ca. 1400) gentil (Noble; courteous; courtly.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| gens | Latin (lat) | Roman clan, related by birth or marriage and sharing a common name. The chief gods. Tribe; people, family. |
| -ilem | Latin (lat) | |
| gentilis | Latin (lat) | A heathen, pagan (poetic) foreign, exotic. Of or belonging to the same family or gēns. Of or belonging to the same people or nation. Of slaves who bore the same name as their master. |
| gentil | Old French (842-ca. 1400) (fro) | Noble; courteous; courtly. |
| gentil | Middle English (1100-1500) (enm) | |
| gentle | English (eng) | (archaic) Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble.. Docile and easily managed.. Gradual rather than steep or sudden.. Polite and respectful rather than rude.. Soft and mild rather than hard or severe.. Tender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly disposition. (archaic) A maggot used as bait by anglers (Can we add an example for this sense?). (archaic) A person of [...] |