gently
/ˈd͡ʒɛntli/ · adv
Meaning
- In a manner characterized by gentleness
- Without strong force or quickness: softly, lightly.
- In a gentle manner; to a gentle degree.
- Quietly: without much noise or motion.
- From a gentle or high-class family.
- In the manner of one of gentle birth; in a manner that reflects the traditional virtues of the gentry: courteously, nobly.
Etymology / origin
From Middle English gentilly, gentlych, gentilliche, equivalent to gentle + -ly, with *-lely simplified to -ly by haplology.
- gentilly(Middle English)→
- gently (English)
- Relations: inh
Related words
Sources
No citations have been attached yet.