| 释义 |
gently, adv.|ˈdʒɛntlɪ|
Forms: 4 gentil(l)ich(e, gentel(l)iche, 4–6 gentilly(e, (5 jentilly), 5–6 gentylly, gentel(l)y, 6 gentlelye, gentlie, -lye, 6– gently.
[f. gentle a. + -ly2.]
1.
†a. As befits one of gentle birth; generously, nobly, courteously; elegantly (obs.).
b. In the condition of gentle birth (only in gently born: see 4).
13..Guy Warw. (A.) 4545 Wele he was y-armed gentilliche. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 134 Þe sonne cam also suiþe, & cried his fader mercy, Þe kyng þerof was bliþe, forgaf him gentilly. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 13 Gentiliche with Ioye the Iustise soone Busked him into the bour. c1440Sir Gowther 41 Knyghtes and squyres..On steedes hem gentely to play. 1509Hawes Conv. Swearers 22 And yf ye dyde ye wolde full gentylly Obeye my byddynge. 1572J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 85 Couetous persons or niggardes, such as would not gently, or liberally departe from any of their goodes or substance. 1635R. N. Camden's Hist. Eliz. i. an. 9. 67 Oxford and Cambridge, which gently envyed one another. 1864Tennyson Sea Dreams 1 A city clerk, but gently born and bred.
2. In a quiet, moderate, or subdued fashion; slowly, softly.
1559Morwyng Evonym. 201 Bake the bread therof gentlelye in an oven. 1578Lyte Dodoens i. xix. 29 The whole herbe is not of so strong a sauour, but smelleth more gentilly, and pleasantly. 1600E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 288 They sailed gently towards the Iland. 1657R. Ligon Barbadoes (1673) 3 The general Landscape of the Hills seemed to us very beautiful, gently rising and falling, without Rocks or high precipices. 1665Hooke Microgr. 78 Thus have I by gently mixing Vermilion and Bise dry, produc'd a very fine Purple. a1683Sir T. Raymond Rep. (1696) 212 Manning..was burned in the hand; and the Court directed the Executioner to burn him gently. 1709Addison Tatler No. 116 ⁋5 They gently touched upon the Weight and Unweildiness of the Garment. 1776Trial of Nundocomar 76/2 His writer went close to him, and read it gently to him: I was at a distance, and did not hear it. 1823F. Clissold Ascent Mt. Blanc 22 A soft breath of wind spread its folds, and floated it gently in the air. 1833Cycl. Pract. Med. I. 369/1 Tamarind-pulp, although an agreeable laxative, yet operates too gently..when given alone. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xiii. III. 353 A highway..ascends gently from the low country to the summit of the defile. 1870E. Peacock Ralf Skirl. II. 161 He pushed it gently open.
b. Used as an expression of remonstrance.
1806–7J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life vi. (1826) 116 Gently, Mr. Testy.
3. Mildly, tenderly, kindly.
1548Udall, etc., tr. Erasm. Par. John iv. 17 Here Jesus..gentelly reprouyng the womans lyfe, saith vnto her. 1681Dryden Absol. & Achit. To Rdr., That I can write severely with more ease than I can gently. 1711Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Wortley Montagu 9 Apr., I can bear being told that I am in the wrong, but tell it me gently. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. xxvi, I gently rebuked their sorrow. 1836J. H. Newman Par. Serm. (1837) III. viii. 122 Feeling gently, even when we have reason to act severely. 1866G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. ii. (1878) 22 The little fellow looked at me..and then put his arms gently round my neck.
4. Comb., as gently-aperient, gently-born, gently-breathing, gently-falling, gently-moulded, gently-rising, gently-soothing, gently-swelling, gently-wafted, gently-waving, gently-whistling adjs.
1835Cycl. Pract. Med. IV. 586/1 *Gently aperient medicines.
1859Tennyson Enid 1040 They themselves [horses] like creatures *gently born But into bad hands fall'n. 1887Spectator 2 July 901/2 Refinement and truth, which are still the distinguishing marks of the gently-born Briton.
1839Longfellow Terrest. Paradise 7 A *gently-breathing air that no mutation Had in itself.
1776Mickle tr. Camoens' Lusiad 300 While to the lute the *gently-falling oar Now breaks the surges of the briny tide.
1839Talfourd Fate of Macdonalds iii. ii, Through cluster'd piles Of *gently-moulded columns.
1718Rowe tr. Lucan v. 1016 Speedy the Latian Chiefs unfurl their Sails, And catch the *gently-rising Northern Gales. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 360 It is like the tide flowing in waves upon a gently rising shore.
Ibid. 139 Whatever goes beyond that *gently soothing content..is needless.
1885Truth 28 May 850/2 Violent curves where there should be only *gently swelling lines.
1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. IV. liv. 111 This floating, *gently-wafted existence.
1748Thomson Cast. Indol. i. xl, The *gently waving wind.
1703Rowe Ulyss. ii. i, While Neptune smooths his Waters for their Passage, And *gently whistling Winds invite their Sails.
Hence ˈgentlying vbl. n. (see 2 b above).
1852R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour (1893) 349 There were such climbings on, and clutchings..and gentlyings, and who-hoo-ings, and questionings if ‘such a horse was quiet?’ |