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Added 9 October 2026

gently

/ˈd͡ʒɛntli/ adverb

Categories: Describing WordsEveryday Words

In Latin: leniter, lene, molliter Wiktionary

adverb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about gently at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. 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.
  2. Without strong force or quickness: softly, lightly.
  3. In a gentle manner; to a gentle degree.

Origin

From Middle English gentilly, gentlych, gentilliche, equivalent to gentle + -ly, with *-lely simplified to -ly by haplology.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: softlylightlymildlyeasycalmlydelicatelybluntlymodestlyrelaxmoderatelyshallowlyquietly

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