Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gentle-heartedness” come from?

gentle-heartedness (English) comes from English gentle-hearted, 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 — Forms agent nouns from verbal roots.

gentle-heartedness (English): Kindness and compassion; Meekness, mildness;...

Definitions

  1. Kindness and compassion; Meekness, mildness;...

Ancestry of “gentle-heartedness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishgentle-heartedKind and compassionate; Meek and mild; Refined...
2EnglishgentleTender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly...
3Middle Englishgentilcourteous, noble
4Old Frenchgentilnoble; courteous; courtly
5Latingentīlis—
6Latin-ilis-ile
7Proto-Italic-elis—
8Proto-Indo-European-elis—
9Proto-Indo-European-lósForms agent nouns from verbal roots
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -lós →