gentilly

English

Etymology

From Middle English gentilly, equivalent to gentle +‎ -ly.

Adverb

gentilly (comparative more gentilly, superlative most gentilly)

1. (Early Modern) Obsolete spelling of gently.

Middle English

Alternative forms

• gentilliche

Etymology

From gentil +‎ -ly; see further at gentle.

Adverb

gentilly

1. Like a member of the gentry: in the manner of someone of gentle birth.
   • 15th c., Anonymous, Sir Gowther, in 1995, Anne Laskaya, Eve Salisbury (eds.), "The Middle English Breton lays", Kalamazoo, Michigan: Medieval Institute Publications pp. 263-307, ll. 39-45.

     A mangere con thei make;
     Knyghtus of honowr tho furst dey
     Justyd gently hom to pley
     Here shaftes gan thei shake.
     On the morow the lordes gente
     Made a riall tournement
     For that lady sake;

     They made a feast. That first day, honorable knights jousted like gentlemen homeward to the contest, and began to shatter their lances. The next day the gentle lords made a royal tournament for the lady's sake.

2. (by extension) In a manner that reflects the virtues or customs associated with those of gentle birth: generously, courteously, gracefully, nobly, etc.
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio xii, recto, column 1:

     And Emelye hym loueth so tenderly
     And he her ſerueth ſo gentelly
     That neuer was ther no woꝛde hē bytwene
     Of ielouſye, oꝛ of any other tene

     And Emily loved him so tenderly
     And he served her so nobly and faithfully
     That between them, there was never a single word
     Of jealousy, or any other trouble.

Descendants

• English: gently