*genə-, also *gen-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'give birth, beget,' with derivatives referring to procreation and familial and tribal groups. From 1823 as 'pertaining to the fairies.' Older sense remains in gentleman, and compare gentile (adj.), an alternative form which tends to keep the Biblical senses of the Latin word (though gentle in Middle English sometimes meant 'pagan, heathen'), and genteel, which is the same word borrowed again from French. 1300 as 'graceful, beautiful.' Meaning 'mild, tender easy not harsh' (of animals, things, persons) is from 1550s.

as 'courteous, polite, well-bred, charming ' c. in English as 'gracious, kind' (now obsolete), manners prescribed for Christian or chivalrous nobility. Sense evolved in English and French to 'having the character or manners of one of noble rank or birth,' varying according to how those were defined. Early 13c., gentile, gentle 'well-born, of noble rank or family,' from Old French gentil/ jentil 'high-born, worthy, noble, of good family courageous, valiant fine, good, fair' (11c., in Modern French 'nice, graceful, pleasing fine, pretty') and directly from Latin gentilis 'of the same family or clan,' in Medieval Latin 'of noble or good birth,' from gens (genitive gentis) 'race, clan,' from root of gignere 'beget,' from PIE root *gene- 'to give birth, beget,' from PIE root *gene- 'give birth, beget,' with derivatives referring to procreation and familial and tribal groups.

Gentle reader definition