GENT, jent, _n._ familiar abbrev. of _gentleman_: one who apes the
gentleman.
GENTEEL, jen-t[=e]l', _adj._ well-bred: graceful in manners or in form:
fashionable.--_adj._ GENTEEL'ISH, somewhat genteel.--_adv._
GENTEEL'LY.--_n._ GENTEEL'NESS (same as GENTILITY).--THE GENTEEL, the
manners and usages of genteel or well-bred society. [Fr. _gentil_--L.
_gentilis_, belonging to the same _gens_, or clan--later, well-bred.]
GENTIAN, jen'shan, _n._ a plant the root of which is used in medicine, said
by Pliny to have been brought into use by _Gentius_, king of Illyria,
conquered by the Romans in 167 B.C.--_ns._ GENTIANEL'LA, a name for several
species of gentian, esp. _Gentiana acaulis_, with deep-blue flowers;
GEN'TIANINE, a yellow crystalline bitter compound obtained from the yellow
gentian.
GENTILE, jen't[=i]l, _n._ (_B._) any one not a Jew: any one not a
Christian.--_adj._ of or belonging to a _gens_ or clan: belonging to any
nation but the Jews: (_gram._) denoting a race or country.--_adjs._
GENTIL'IC, tribal; GEN'TILISH, heathenish.--_n._ GEN'TILISM,
paganism.--_adjs._ GENTILI'TIAL, GENTILI'TIAN, GENTILI'TIOUS, pertaining to
a gens. [L. _gentilis_--_gens_, a nation.]
GENTLE, jen'tl, _adj._ well-born: mild and refined in manners: mild in
disposition: amiable: soothing: moderate: gradual.--_v.t._ (_Shak._) to
make gentle.--_n._ (_obs._) a person of good family: (_Shak._) a trained
falcon: the larva of the flesh-fly, used as a bait in angling.--_n._
GENTILESSE', the quality of being gentle, courtesy.--_v.t._ GEN'TILISE, to
raise to the class of gentleman.--_n._ GENTIL'ITY, good birth or
extraction: good breeding: politeness of manners: genteel people: marks of
gentility.--_n.pl._ GEN'TLEFOLK, people of good family.--_adj._
GEN'TLE-HEART'ED, having a gentle or kind disposition.--_n._ GEN'TLEHOOD,
position or character attaching to gentle birth.--_n._ GEN'TLENESS.--_adv._
GENT'LY.--_n._ GEN'TRICE, gentle birth, courtesy.--GENTLE READER, courteous
reader, an old-fashioned phrase common in the prefaces of books.--THE
GENTLE CRAFT, a phrase used to specify shoe-making, also angling; THE
GENTLE (or GENTLER) SEX, women in general as opposed to the _stern_ or
_sterner sex_. [Fr.,--L. _gentilis_. See GENTEEL.]
GENTLEMAN, jen'tl-man, _n._ a man of good birth: one who without a title
wears a coat of arms: more generally every man above the rank of yeoman,
including the nobility: one above the trading classes: a man of refined
manners: a polite term used for man in general: (_Shak._) a
body-servant:--_pl._ GEN'TLEMEN--also a word of address:--_fem._
GEN'TLEWOMAN.--_ns._ GEN'TLEMAN-AT-ARMS, a member of the royal bodyguard,
instituted in 1509, and now composed of military officers of service and
distinction only; GEN'TLEMAN-COMM'ONER, a member of the higher class of
commoners at Oxford University; GEN'TLEMANHOOD, GEN'TLEMANSHIP, the
condition or character of a gentleman.--_adjs._ GEN'TLEMANLIKE,
GEN'TLEMANLY, well-bred, refined, generous; GEN'TLEMANLINESS.--_adj._
GEN'TLEWOMANLY, like a refined and well-bred woman.--_n._
GEN'TLEWOMANLINESS.--GENTLEMAN FARMER, a landowner who resides on his
estate and superintends the cultivation of his own soil; GENTLEMAN OF THE
CHAPEL-ROYAL, a lay-singer who assists the priests in the choral service of
the royal chapel; GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN, a valet, or gentleman's
body-servant; GENTLEMAN USHER, a gentleman who serves as an usher at court,
or as an attendant on a person of rank.