gentile

[ jen-tahyl ]

adjective

, (sometimes initial capital letter)

1. of or relating to any people not Jewish.
2. Christian, as distinguished from Jewish.
3. Mormon Church. not Mormon.
4. heathen or pagan.
5. (of a linguistic expression) expressing nationality or local origins.
6. of or relating to a tribe, clan, people, nation, etc.

noun

1. a person who is not Jewish, especially a Christian.
2. (among Mormons) a person who is not a Mormon.
3. a heathen or pagan.

Gentile

¹

/ dʒenˈtiːle /

noun

1. GentileGiovanni18751944MItalianPHILOSOPHY: philosopherPOLITICS: politicianPOLITICS: statesman Giovanni (dʒoˈvanni). 1875–1944, Italian Idealist philosopher and Fascist politician: minister of education (1922–24)

Gentile

²

/ ˈdʒɛntaɪl /

noun

1. a person who is not a Jew
2. a Christian, as contrasted with a Jew
3. a person who is not a member of one's own church: used esp by Mormons
4. a heathen or pagan

adjective

1. of or relating to a race or religion that is not Jewish
2. Christian, as contrasted with Jewish
3. not being a member of one's own church: used esp by Mormons
4. pagan or heathen

gentile

³

/ ˈdʒɛntaɪl /

adjective

1. denoting an adjective or proper noun used to designate a place or the inhabitants of a place, as Spanish and Spaniard
2. of or relating to a tribe or people

Gentile

1. Someone who is not a Jew (see also Jews ). “The nations” is the common expression in the Old Testament for non-Jews as a group, and a Gentile is a person belonging to “the nations.”

Notes

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament tell of numerous conflicts between Jews and Gentiles. Figuratively, a “gentile” is any nonbeliever.

Other Words From

• non·gentile adjective noun
• pro-Gentile adjective noun
• un·gentile adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentile¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin gentīlis, from gent-, stem of gēns gens + -īlis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentile¹

C14: from Late Latin gentīlis, from Latin: one belonging to the same tribe or family; see gens

Example Sentences

But there is something more that escapes the average Gentile (non-Mormon) perspective, and that is direct spiritual experience.

From The Daily Beast

Cast: Jeff Garlin, Wendi McLendon-Covey, George Segal, Hayley Orrantia, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile.

From The Daily Beast

“Some might consider them interesting,” replied defense lawyer Tony Gentile dryly.

From The Daily Beast

Olivia Gentile earned a B.A. from Harvard and an M.F.A. from Columbia.

From The Daily Beast

But in order to deal with capital, capital you must have, or else find some innocent Gentile to lend it you at an easy rate.

From Project Gutenberg

She put her hands over her eyes and sank upon her knees, and Maestro Gentile knelt beside her.

From Project Gutenberg

These new wants and interests were not only alien to the old gentile order, but thwarted it in every way.

From Project Gutenberg

With this fundamental constitution, civilization had accomplished things for which the old gentile society was no match whatever.

From Project Gutenberg

The gentle-man—gentile-man—who respected his own gens, or family, or pedigree, was bound to be gentle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agnostic