gentle
/ˈdʒɛnt(ə)l/
adjective
Origin
Latin
gentilis — of the same family or clan, of noble birth
Overview
Meaning Now
- Mild, kind, or tender in nature or manner.
- Not harsh, severe, or violent; gradual or moderate in force.
Literal older meaning
of noble birth or rank
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
gentil
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
Originally used to denote social class (nobility), the word underwent a semantic narrowing and shift. By the late Middle Ages, the expected behavior of the nobility—courtesy and refinement—became the primary meaning, eventually losing its direct association with social status.
Evolution
- Latin
gentilis
“belonging to a clan or gens”
- Old French
gentil
“well-born, noble, fine”
- Middle English
gentil
“noble, high-born, courteous”
- Middle English
gentel
“moderate, kind, not harsh”
Connections
Word parts
gent-
root
clan, birth
-le
suffix
adjective forming suffix
Related across languages
French
gentil
nice, kind
Spanish
gentil
kind, polite, gentile
Related words
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Related to gentle
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.