- gentle⇄adj. 1. not severe, rough, or violent; mild.
Ex. a gentle tap.
2. soft; low.
Ex. a gentle sound.
(SYN) soothing.
3. not too much or too fast; not harsh or extreme; moderate.
Ex. gentle heat, a gentle slope.
4 - gentle⇄expr. gentle and simple, (Archaic.) people of high and low degree.
Ex. Gentle and simple of every clan ... (William Dunbar). - gentle⇄gentle orgentler sex,
women collectively; womankind. - gentle⇄gentle, adjective, -tler,-tlest,noun, verb, -tled,-tling.
- gentle⇄noun (Archaic.) a person who is of gentle birth or rank.
Ex. Gentles, I would entreat you a courtesy (Scott). - gentle⇄noun gentleness.
- gentle⇄v.t. 1. to become gentle.
Ex. Some dogs gentle with age.
2. to move in a gentle, quiet way.
Ex. Bottom up ... the boat was another creature entirely ... and he gentled cautiously against it (Atlantic). - gentle⇄v.t. 1. to treat in a soothing way; make quiet or gentle.
Ex. The rider gentled his excited horse. This is accomplished ... through social controls and informal pressures which gentle down the extremists and prod along the laggards (Harper's).