Where does “gentle-hearted” come from?
gentle-hearted (English) comes from English gentle, from Middle English gentil, from Old French gentil, from Latin gentīlis, from Latin -ilis, from Proto-Italic -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -lós — Forms agent nouns from verbal roots.
gentle-hearted (English): Kind and compassionate; Meek and mild; Refined...
Definitions
- Kind and compassionate; Meek and mild; Refined...
Ancestry of “gentle-hearted”, step by step
gentle-hearted traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English gentle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | gentle | Tender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly... |
| 2 | Middle English | gentil | courteous, noble |
| 3 | Old French | gentil | noble; courteous; courtly |
| 4 | Latin | gentīlis | of or belonging to the same family or gēns: kinsman |
| 5 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |
via English hearted
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | hearted | simple past tense and past participle of heart;... |
| 2 | Middle English | herted | Having a specified disposition, emotion, or... |
| 3 | Middle English | herte | The heart; One's inner self; the mind or... |
| 4 | Old English | heorte | heart |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | hertā | heart |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hertô | heart |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱḗr | heart |