U

gently

adjective, gen·tler, gen·tlest.

kindly; amiable: a gentle manner.
not severe, rough, or violent; mild: a gentle wind; a gentle tap on the shoulder.
moderate: gentle heat.
gradual: a gentle slope.
of good birth or family; wellborn.
characteristic of good birth; honorable; respectable: a gentle upbringing.
easily handled or managed; tractable: a gentle animal.
soft or low: a gentle sound.
polite; refined: Consider, gentle reader, my terrible predicament at this juncture.
entitled to a coat of arms; armigerous.
Archaic. noble; chivalrous: a gentle knight.

verb (used with object), gen·tled, gen·tling.

to tame; render tractable.
to mollify; calm; pacify.
to make gentle.
to stroke; soothe by petting.
to ennoble; dignify.

adjective

having a mild or kindly nature or character
soft or temperate; mild; moderatea gentle scolding
graduala gentle slope
easily controlled; tamea gentle horse
archaic of good breeding; noblegentle blood
archaic gallant; chivalrous

verb (tr)

to tame or subdue (a horse)
to appease or mollify
obsolete to ennoble or dignify

noun

a maggot, esp when used as bait in fishing
archaic a person who is of good breeding

adv.

early 14c., “befitting one of gentle rank,” from gentle + -ly (2). Meaning “quietly, softly” is from 1550s.

adj.

early 13c., “well-born,” from Old French gentil “high-born, noble, of good family” (11c., in Modern French “nice, graceful, pleasing; fine pretty”), from Latin gentilis “of the same family or clan,” from gens (genitive gentis) “race, clan,” from root of gignere “beget,” from PIE root *gen- “produce” (see genus). Sense of “gracious, kind” (now obsolete) first recorded late 13c.; that of “mild, tender” is 1550s. Older sense remains in gentleman.