King James Bible Dictionary

GEN'TLE, adjective [See Genteel.] Well born; of a good family or respectable birth, though not noble; as the studies of noble and gentle youth; gentle blood.

1. Mild; meek; soft; bland; not rough, harsh or severe; as a gentle nature, temper or disposition; a gentle manner; a gentle address; a gentle voice. 1 Thessalonians 2:7. 1 Thessalonians 2:7.

2. Tame; peaceable; not wild, turbulent or refractory; as a gentle horse or beast.

3. Soothing; pacific.

4. Treating with mildness; not violent.

A gentle hand may lead the elephant with a hair.

GEN'TLE, noun A gentleman.

1. A kind of worm.

GEN'TLE, verb transitive To make genteel; to raise from the vulgar.

GEN'TLEFOLK, noun [gentle and folk.] Persons of good breeding and family. It is now used only in the plural, gentlefolks, and this use is vulgar.

GEN'TLEMAN, adjective [gentle, that is, genteel, and man. See Genteel.]

1. In its most extensive sense, in Great Britain, every man above the rank of yeomen, comprehending noblemen. In a more limited sense, a man, who without a title, bears a coat of arms, or whose ancestors have been freemen. In this sense, gentlemen hold a middle rank between the nobility and yeomanry.

2. In the United States, where titles and distinctions of rank do not exist, the term is applied to men of education and of good breeding, of every occupation. Indeed this is also the popular practice in Great Britain. Hence,

3. A man of good breeding, politeness, and civil manners, as distinguished from the vulgar and clownish.

A plowman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.

4. A term of complaisance. In the plural, the appellation by which men are addressed in popular assemblies, whatever may be their condition or character.

5. In Great Britain, the servant of a man of rank, who attends his person.

GEN'TLEMANLIKE

GEN'TLEMANLINESS, noun Behavior of a well bred man.

GEN'TLEMANLY , adjective Pertaining to or becoming a gentleman, or a man of good family and breeding; polite; complaisant; as gentlemanly manners.

1. Like a man of birth and good breeding; as a gentlemanly officer.

Of Christ

General references
Isaiah 40:11; 2 Corinthians 10:1; Matthew 11:29
Jesus, The Christ, Compassion of; Jesus, The Christ, Humility of; Jesus, The Christ, Meekness of

Of God

General references
2 Samuel 22:36; Psalms 18:35; Isaiah 40:11
God, Compassion of; God, Longsuffering of

Of Paul
1 Thessalonians 2:7

Exhortations to

General references
Galatians 5:22; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 3:1-2; James 3:17
Humility; Kindness; Meekness; Patience

GEN'TLENESS, noun [See Gentle.] Dignity of birth. [Little used.]

1. Genteel behavior.

2. Softness of manners; mildness of temper; sweetness of disposition; meekness.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness goodness, faith. Galatians 5:22.

3. Kindness; benevolence.

4. Tenderness; mild treatment.

GEN'TLESHIP, noun The deportment of a gentleman.

GEN'TLEWOMAN, noun [gentle and woman.] A woman of good family or of good breeding; a woman above the vulgar.

1. A woman who waits about the person of one of high rank.

2. A term of civility to a female, sometimes ironical.