Gentle
/ˈdʒɛn.təl/noun
Having a mild, kind, or tender temperament; not harsh or severe.
Did you know?The word 'gentle' is derived from the Latin 'gentilis', meaning 'of the same family or clan', linking it to nobility and social status in ancient times.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʲenh₁-
“to beget, to produce, to create.”
Latin
Latin
gentilis
“of the same family, noble.”
Old French
Old French
gentil
“noble, well-born, refined.”
Middle English
Middle English
gentil
“noble, kind, gentle.”
Modern English
English
gentle
“having a mild or kindly disposition.”