资料来源 : pyDict

有礼貌的,文雅的;柔和的,和缓的;出身高贵的

资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

资料来源 : WordNet®

gentle
     v 1: cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of;
          "She managed to mollify the angry customer" [syn: {pacify},
           {lenify}, {conciliate}, {assuage}, {appease}, {mollify},
           {placate}, {gruntle}]
     2: give a title to someone; make someone a member of the
        nobility [syn: {ennoble}, {entitle}]
     3: stroke soothingly

gentle
     adj 1: soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe; "a gentle
            reprimand"; "a vein of gentle irony"; "poked gentle
            fun at him"
     2: having or showing a kindly or tender nature; "the gentle
        touch of her hand"; "her gentle manner was comforting"; "a
        gentle sensitive nature"; "gentle blue eyes"
     3: quiet and soothing; "a gentle voice"; "a gentle nocturne"
     4: belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or
        aristocracy; "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" [syn: {aristocratic}, {aristocratical},
         {blue}, {blue-blooded}, {patrician}]
     5: easily handled or managed; "a gentle old horse, docile and
        obedient" [syn: {docile}]
     6: having little impact; "an easy pat on the shoulder"; "gentle
        rain"; "a gentle breeze"; "a soft (or light) tapping at
        the window" [syn: {easy}, {soft}]
     7: marked by moderate steepness; "an easy climb"; "a gentle
        slope" [syn: {easy}]