gentle
['dʒentl]
a. 温, 文雅

1. My new teacher is a very gentle person.
   新老师温文尔雅。
2. Gentle persuasion is more effective than force.
   温胜於压.
3. Of a kind and gentle disposition.
   善性情善温

gentle
[ verb ]

1. cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of

<verb.emotion> appease assuage conciliate gruntle lenify mollify pacify placate
She managed to mollify the angry customer

2. give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility

<verb.social> ennoble entitle

3. stroke soothingly

<verb.contact>

[ adj ]

1. soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

<adj.all>
a gentle reprimand
a vein of gentle irony
poked gentle fun at him

2. having or showing a kindly or tender nature

<adj.all>
the gentle touch of her hand
her gentle manner was comforting
a gentle sensitive nature
gentle blue eyes

3. quiet and soothing

<adj.all>
a gentle voice
a gentle nocturne

4. belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy

<adj.all>
an aristocratic family
aristocratic Bostonians
aristocratic government
a blue family
blue blood
the blue-blooded aristocracy
of gentle blood
patrician landholders of the American South
aristocratic bearing
aristocratic features
patrician tastes

5. easily handled or managed

<adj.all>
a gentle old horse, docile and obedient

6. having little impact

<adj.all>
an easy pat on the shoulder
gentle rain
a gentle breeze
a soft (or light) tapping at the window

7. marked by moderate steepness

<adj.all>
an easy climb
a gentle slope

Gentle \Gen"tle\, a. [Compar. {Gentler}; superl. {Gentlest}.]
[OE. gentil, F. gentil noble, pretty, graceful, fr. L.
gentilis of the same clan or race, fr. gens, gentis, tribe,
clan, race, orig. that which belongs together by birth, fr.
the root of genere, gignere, to beget; hence gentle,
properly, of birth or family, that is, of good or noble
birth. See {Gender}, and cf. {Genteel}, {Gentil}, {Gentile},
{Gentoo}, {Jaunty}.]
1. Well-born; of a good family or respectable birth, though
not noble.

British society is divided into nobility, gentry,
and yeomanry, and families are either noble, gentle,
or simple. --Johnson's
Cyc.

The studies wherein our noble and gentle youth ought
to bestow their time. --Milton.

2. Quiet and refined in manners; not rough, harsh, or stern;
mild; meek; bland; amiable; tender; as, a gentle nature,
temper, or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address;
a gentle voice.

3. A compellative of respect, consideration, or conciliation;
as, gentle reader. ``Gentle sirs.'' ``Gentle Jew.''
``Gentle servant.'' --Shak.

4. Not wild, turbulent, or refractory; quiet and docile;
tame; peaceable; as, a gentle horse.

5. Soft; not violent or rough; not strong, loud, or
disturbing; easy; soothing; pacific; as, a gentle touch; a
gentle gallop . ``Gentle music.'' --Sir J. Davies.

O sleep! it is a gentle thing. --Coleridge.

{The gentle craft}, the art or trade of shoemaking.

Syn: Mild; meek; placid; dovelike; quiet; peaceful; pacific;
bland; soft; tame; tractable; docile.

Usage: {Gentle}, {Tame}, {Mild}, {Meek}. Gentle describes the
natural disposition; tame, that which is subdued by
training; mild implies a temper which is, by nature,
not easily provoked; meek, a spirit which has been
schooled to mildness by discipline or suffering. The
lamb is gentle; the domestic fowl is tame; John, the
Apostle, was mild; Moses was meek.


Gentle \Gen"tle\, n.
1. One well born; a gentleman. [Obs.]

Gentles, methinks you frown. --Shak.

2. A trained falcon. See {Falcon-gentil}.

3. (Zo["o]l.) A dipterous larva used as fish bait.


Gentle \Gent"le\, v. t.
1. To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar; to ennoble.
[Obs.] --Shak.

2. To make smooth, cozy, or agreeable. [R. or Poet.]

To gentle life's descent,
We shut our eyes, and think it is a plain. --Young.

3. To make kind and docile, as a horse. [Colloq.]