gentle
gentle — adjective
1. having a way of behaving that is soft, caring, and never harsh or violent toward
having a way of behaving that is soft, caring, and never harsh or violent towards others
Tendai picked up the crying kitten with a gentle hand.
collocation: gentle hand
The way Jenna speaks to her students is always gentle and patient.
That big dog is surprisingly gentle around young children.
Christopher's gentle smile helped everyone in the waiting room feel less nervous.
An elderly neighbour wrote a gentle note of thanks to the firefighters.
用法筆記
Frequently used to describe a person's voice, touch, smile, or manner, especially in caregiving or teaching contexts.
常見錯誤
2. small in force, degree, or effect; not extreme, strong, or harsh
small in force, degree, or effect; not extreme, strong, or harsh
The doctor recommended some gentle exercise like slow walking.
collocation: gentle exercise
A gentle breeze moved the leaves on the cherry tree.
collocation: gentle breeze
This face cream is gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Anya put the casserole in the oven at a gentle heat.
用法筆記
Commonly modifies nouns like 'exercise', 'breeze', 'heat', 'soap', or 'slope'. Compare with sense 1 (CALM AND KIND), which describes personal manner rather than physical force or intensity.
常見錯誤
3. rising or falling at a slow, even angle, without a sharp or sudden change in hei
rising or falling at a slow, even angle, without a sharp or sudden change in height
Felix pushed his bike up the gentle hill behind the school.
collocation: gentle hill
The path follows a gentle curve through the pine forest.
A gentle slope leads down to the riverbank from the house.
Eli's wheelchair uses the gentle ramp at the side entrance.
用法筆記
Primarily describes physical gradients — slopes, hills, ramps, stairs, or inclines. Not used for temperature, personality, or intensity.
常見錯誤
4. naturally calm and willing to follow instructions; easy to control, manage, or h
naturally calm and willing to follow instructions; easy to control, manage, or handle
After weeks of training, the horse became gentle enough for beginners to ride.
adj/4 meaning: gentle enough for beginners
The shepherd picked the most gentle sheep from the flock for the petting zoo.
Élise needs a gentle pony that will not shy away from children.
The riding instructor chose the gentlest pony in the stable for the children's class.
用法筆記
Most often applied to animals (horses, dogs, sheep) or their temperament. In modern English, less common than sense 1. Distinguish from sense 1 (CALM AND KIND): this sense focuses on manageability and obedience rather than affectionate manner.
常見錯誤
5. connected with or typical of the upper class in society, especially families wit
connected with or typical of the upper class in society, especially families with inherited titles; showing the refined qualities once expected of noble birth
The countess came from a family of gentle blood that could be traced back centuries.
phrase: gentle blood
In old novels, characters of gentle birth often marry within their own social circle.
phrase: gentle birth
The manor was built for a family of gentle standing in the eighteenth century.
In Shakespeare's plays, characters often speak of honour and gentle lineage.
- noble
More common and broader term for aristocratic status
- well-born
Historical; emphasises being born into a high-status family
- aristocratic
Direct and unambiguous; refers to the social class itself
用法筆記
An older, literary sense that is rare in modern everyday English. Survives mainly in fixed historical phrases such as 'people of gentle birth', 'gentle blood', and 'gentle breeding'. Compare with sense 1 (CALM AND KIND): the original meaning of 'gentle' was 'of noble family', and the modern 'kind' sense developed from the idea that nobles should behave nobly.
常見錯誤
gentle — verb
1. to use patient, trust-building methods to turn a wild or frightened horse into a
to use patient, trust-building methods to turn a wild or frightened horse into a calm and safe one
It took Emre three months to gentle the young stallion from the mountains.
The rancher specialises in gentling horses that have never been touched by a human before.
gerund: gentling horses
Sofia watched the trainer gentle the frightened colt with slow, calm movements.
Vivek learned how to gentle a horse by first letting it sniff his hand through the fence.
- tame
Broader term for any wild animal; does not necessarily imply kindness
- break in
Informal; focuses on making a horse accept a rider or harness
- domesticate
Refers to a whole species, not an individual animal
文法句型
gentle + noun phrase
用法筆記
Primarily used in the context of horse training and animal handling. The method implied is one of trust-building rather than dominance. Less commonly used for other animals.
常見錯誤
2. to make someone who is angry, upset, or afraid feel calm and peaceful again
to make someone who is angry, upset, or afraid feel calm and peaceful again
The manager tried to gentle the angry customers with a sincere apology.
Hao's soothing words gentled the frightened child until her tears stopped.
past tense: gentled
Nothing can gentle his temper once he feels that he has been treated unfairly.
The mediator gentled the tense meeting with a calm request for everyone to speak one at a time.
文法句型
gentle + noun phrase (person)
用法筆記
Formal or literary in register. More common in written narrative than in everyday conversation. In modern English, 'calm', 'soothe', or 'pacify' are more frequent alternatives.
常見錯誤
3. to rub or touch an animal or person with a slow, soft hand movement, especially
to rub or touch an animal or person with a slow, soft hand movement, especially to give comfort or show affection
Mira gentled the cat's fur while it purred on her lap.
pattern: gentle + animal's body part
The old man gentled his grandson's hair until the boy drifted off to sleep.
Sahil gentled the nervous dog by stroking behind its ears.
Putri gentled the scared rabbit until it stopped trembling in her hands.
文法句型
gentle + noun phrase (animal or person)
用法筆記
An uncommon but vivid verb. Often describes affectionate physical contact with pets or children. In modern English, 'pet', 'stroke', or 'touch gently' are far more frequent.
常見錯誤
4. to officially confer a noble title upon a person, raising them into the titled u
to officially confer a noble title upon a person, raising them into the titled upper class
The king gentled the general after the battle, making him a baron.
In the nineteenth century, wealthy merchants were sometimes gentled for their service to the crown.
passive: were gentled for [reason]
Only the monarch had the power to gentle a subject in the old peerage system.
The historian found a record of a merchant who was gentled by Queen Elizabeth I.
- ennoble
The standard modern verb; broader — can also mean morally elevating
- knight
Specific to the rank of knight; still used in the UK honours system
- elevate to the peerage
The formal legal phrase; very formal
文法句型
be gentled + title/by [monarch]
用法筆記
Rare in modern English outside of historical writing. The more common modern verb is 'ennoble' or 'knight'. This sense is historically connected to the original meaning of 'gentle' (sense 5, adjective: of noble birth), as the verb literally means 'to make gentle' in the old sense.