genthite 
2489 
tions of an apple-green color on chromite at a tribe, family, clan: see geits.] I. it. 1. Of 
Texas, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. 
gentian (jen'shian), . [< ME. i/i ;//,/, < OF. 
gentiane = Sp. Pg. gciii-iinia, < L. gentiana, Gr. 
yevriavf/, also 
yevrtof, gen- 
tian; said to 
have been 
named after 
an Illyrian 
king Gctiti n*, 
Gr. Ttvriof, 
who was the 
first to dis- 
cover its 
properties.] 
The common 
name for spe- 
cies of the 
genus Gen- 
tiana. The of- 
ficinal gentian, 
affording the 
gentian-root of 
pharmacists, is 
the G. lutea, a 
tall handsome 
species of south- 
ern and central 
Europe, though 
the roots of oth- 
er species, as of 
G. purpnrea and 
Q. Pannonica, 
are frequently substituted for it. The more common 
American gentians are the fringed gentian (G. crinata), 
with showy sky-blue, delicately fringed corollas, and the 
closed gentian (G. Andrewsii) and soapwort-gentian (G. 
Saponaria), both with nearly closed corollas. 
More sad than cheery, making in good sooth, 
Like the fringed gentian, a late autumn spring. 
Lowell, Legend of Brittany, i. 16. 
False gentian, the Swertia pusilla, a gentianaceons plant 
of Europe, northern Asia, and western North America. 
Horse-gentian, the Triostemn perfoliatmn, a caprifolia- 
ceous plant of North America, with a bitter root. Spur- 
red gentian, the flalenia deflexa, a gentianaceous plant 
of North America, the corolla of which has 4 or 5 spurs. 
Gentiana (jen-shi-an'a or -a'na), n. [L., gen- 
Gentian (Gentiana lutta}. 
or belonging to a gens or clan; of the same 
clan or family. 
Another result [of Solon's policy] was to Increase the 
number of people who stood outside those gentile and 
phratric divisions which were concomitants of the patri- 
archal type and of personal rule. 
U. Spencer, Prin. of Sociol., 488. 
The Agnatic Gentile groups, consisting of all the de- 
scendants, through males, of a common male ancestor, 
began to exist in every association of men and women 
which held together for more than a single generation. 
Maine, Early Law and Custom, p. 287, note A. 
2 (in this sense only jeu'til). In Scrip., be- 
longing to a non-Jewish nation; pertaining to 
a heathen people : in the United States, applied 
by the Mormons to persons not of their church. 
[Commonly with a capital letter.] 
Now again is there a positive nucleus of Gentile influence 
. . . renewed in the city [Salt Lake]. 
S. Bowles, Our New West, p. 209. 
3. In gram., expressing nationality, local ex- 
traction, or place of abode ; describing or desig- 
nating a person as belonging to a certain race, 
country, district, town, or locality by birth or 
otherwise : as, a gentile noun (as Greek, Arab, 
Englishman, etc.); a gentile adjective (as Flor- 
entine, Spanish, etc.). 4f. Worthy of a gentle- 
man; genteel; honorable. See genteel, gentle. 
We make art servile, and the trade gentile 
(Yet both corrupted with ingenious guile), 
To compass earth, and with her empty store 
To fill our arms, and grasp.one handful more. 
Quarles, Emblems, ii. 2. 
Till at last the greatest slavery to sin be accounted but 
good humour, and a gentile compliance with the fashions 
of the world. Stillingfleet, Sermons, I. ii. 
For Plotinus, his deportment was so gentile, that his 
audience was compos'd of a confluence of the noblest and 
most illustrious personages of Rome. 
Sp. Parker, Platonick Philos., p. 31. 
= Syn. 2. See gentile, n. 
U. n. 1. A member of a gens or clan. 
The Agnati were a group of actual or adoptive descen- 
dants, through males, from a known and remembered an- 
cestor ; the Gentiles were a similar group of descendants 
from an ancestor long since forgotten. 
Maine, Early Law and Custom, p. 283, note A. 
gentility 
her mistresse of most gentilesses, and teach her the most 
witty ami subtile discourses, to serve her upon all occa- 
sions. Comical Hist, of Francion (1655). 
[< gentile + -ish*.] 
tian: see gentian.'] A genus of 'plants, the type 2 (jen'tll). In Scrip., one belonging to a non- 
of the order Gentianacea!. They are perennial or Jewish nation ; any person not a Jew ; a hea- 
annual herbs, with opposite, entire, and glabrous leaves, then ; sometimes, in later writings, one who is 
and usually showy bright-colored flowers. There are about neither a Jew nor a Christian. [Commonly 
180 species, found in the mountains and temperate re- 
gions of the northern hemisphere, throughout the Andes, 
and very sparingly in Australia and New Zealand ; over 40 
are natives of the United States. The flowers are usually 
blue, but are sometimes yellow, white, or (in the Andes) 
[Commonly 
with a capital in this use and the next.] 
In the beginning of Christianity, the Fathers writ Contra 
gentes, and Contra Gentiles, they were all one : But after 
all were Christians, the better sort of People still retain'd 
the name of Gentiles, throughout the four Provinces of 
the Roman Empire. Selden, Table-Talk, p. 52. 
3 (jen'tll). Among the Mormons, one who is 
gentian. Gentiana blue. Sameas'spirit-WTO. not of tlleir church. 4. In gram., a noun or 
Gentianaceae (jen-shia-na'se-e), n. pi. [NL., an adjective denved from the name of a coun- 
< Gentiana + -acece.'] "A natural order of gam- trv or locality, and designating its natives or 
opetalous exogens, including about 50 genera people: as, the words Italian, American, Athe- 
and 500 widely distributed species. They are *"'"" ~^*~* BM -" "--'- =-* 
smooth bitter herbs, with mostly opposite, entire, and ses- 
sile leaves, regular flowers, and a usually one-celled cap- 
sule with numerous small seeds. Besides the typical ge- 
nus, Gentiana, the other principal genera are Lisianthus, 
Sioertia, and Erythrcett. The order also includes the fa- 
miliar genera Sabbatia and Frasera, and the bog-bean, 
Menyanthes, which is remarkable in the order for its al- 
ternate, petiolate, and mostly trifoliolate leaves. 
ing or belonging to the" _ 
gentianal (jen'shian-al), a. [< gentian + -al.] 
Pertaining to the"gentians, or to the Gentia- 
nacea;. 
gentian-bitter (jen'shian-bif'er), n. A more 
or less pure gentiopicriii. 
gentianella (jen-shia-nel'a), n. [NL., dim. of 
L. gentiana, gentian:' see gentian.] 1. A com- 
mon name for Gentiana acaulis, a dwarf peren- 
nial species of the Alps, bearing large, beauti- 
ful, intensely blue flowers. 2. A particular 
shade of blue. 
gentian-spirit (jen'shian-spir'it), n. An alco- 
holic liquor produced by the vinous fennenta- 
. tion of an infusion of gentian. It is much 
drunk by the Swiss. Imp. Diet. 
I. are gentiles. = Syn. 2. Gentile, Barbarian, Pagan, 
Heathen. A barbarian was to the Greeks a foreigner, es- 
pecially one of alien speech ; in the New Testament the 
word seems to mean a stranger or foreigner, but in Rom. 
i. 14 one not a Greek, and therefore not cultivated. Pri- 
marily, a Gentile, or the word of which it was a transla- 
tion, signified to the Jews one not a Jew, but later one 
who was neither Jew nor Christian, or, from the Roman 
standpoint, one not a Roman. Pagan and heathen are 
primarily the same in meaning ; but pagan is sometimes 
sniping false gods, are more cultivated, as the Greeks and 
Romans, and heathen to uncivilized idolaters, as the tribes 
of Africa. A Mohammedan is not counted a pagan, much 
less a heathen. See infidel. 
Glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh 
good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. Rom. ii. 10. 
The long struggle between the habits, manners, and 
moral sentiments of the barbarians and the totally oppo- 
site characteristics of Roman life. 
StilU, Stud. Sled. Hist., p. 41. 
I'd rather be 
A Pagan, suckled in a creed outworn ; 
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, 
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn. 
Wordmmrth, Misc. Sonnets, i. 33. 
The missionaries did not disdain to work upon the senses 
of the heathen by anything that could impart a higher dig- 
nity to the Christian cultns as compared with the pagan. 
Grimm, Teut. Mythol. (trans.), I ' 
gentianwort (jen'shian-wert), n. A plant be- Grimr ?' Teut Mytho1 ' (tran8 ' ) ' L 6 - 
longing to the order Gentianacea;. gentllesset, n. [Also gentlesse; < ME. genti- 
gentilt, a. and n. A Middle English form of f sse '. < ^F.gentilesse, gentry, gentility, nobili- 
gentle. 
gentile (jen'til or -til), a. and n. [In defs 1 
2, 3 directly from L.; in def. 4 from F. gentil 
m., gentile, t., gentile, also, formerly, genteel, 
gentle (see genteel, gentle), = Sp. gentil = Pg 
, , , 
*fi P 1 - gentilesses, pretty conceits, devices, = F. 
9<tilesse (= Pr. Sp. Pg. gentileza = It. genti- 
Ie2za ' < 9 entile > gentle, noble, etc.): see gentle. 
^ entnce and gentry, q. v., are other forms of 
s genee, gene, = p. genti = g tne same word.] Gentle birth; character or 
gentid = It. gentile, gentile, < L. gentilis of or manneri * of a person of gentle birth; courtesy; 
belonging to the same gens or clan, of or be- complaisance ; delicacy. 
longing to the same nation or people, pi gen- For 80ra folk wo1 be wounen 'or richesse, 
tUea, foreigners as opposed to Romans, in LL. And som for stroke8 ' ?ll<L 8 'SffS 
opposed to Jewish or Christian, the heathen 
pagans, with sing, gentilis, a heathen, < gfn(l)s, wa's'1 1%%S% %$% 
gentilisht (jen'tll-ish), a. 
Heathenish ; pagan. 
I cannot but yet furder admire, on the other side, how 
anyman, . . . beingaChristian, can assume such extraor- 
dinary Honour and Worship to himself, while the Kingdom 
of Christ our common King and Lord is hid to this World, 
and such yentilixh imitation forbid in express words by 
himself to all his Disciples. Milton, Free Commonwealth. 
gentilism (jen'tll-izm), . [= Sp. Pg. gentilis- 
mo; as gentile + -ism.] The state or charac- 
ter of being gentile or a gentile ; formerly, hea- 
thenism ; paganism ; the worship of false gods. 
A free Commonwealth . . . plainly commended, or rath- 
er enjoin'd hy our Saviour himself, to all Christians, not 
without remarkable disallowance, and the brand of Gen- 
tttimi upon Kingship. Milton, Free Commonwealth. 
A proselyte could not be admitted from gentilism or 
idolatry, unless he gave up his name to the religion. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 408. 
gentilitial (jen-ti-lish'al), a. Same as gentili- 
tious. 
It will ... be found upon examination that, according 
to the historians, the public devotion was principally di- 
rected towards gentilitial, tutelary, and local deities. 
Farmer, Worship of Human Spirits, iii. 1. 
Pathros, the local name, from which the yentilitial noun 
" Pathrusim " is formed, occurs frequently in the writings 
of the Jewish prophets, where it designates, apparently, a 
district of Egypt. G. Rawlinson, Origin of Nations, ii. 218. 
gentilitious (jen-ti-lish'us), a. [= Sp. gentili- 
cio, < L. gentilitius, more correctly gentilicius, 
belonging to a particular clan or gens, also na- 
tional, < gentilis : see gentile.] Pertaining to a 
gens or aggregate family; peculiar to a gens, 
people, or nation. 
Nor is it proved or probable that Scrgius changed the 
name of Bocca di Porco, for this was his sirname or genti- 
litious appellation. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., v'ii. 16. 
Sir Thomas Browne uses with effect the argument that 
a mixed race cannot have a national smell. Among a 
mongrel people, he contends, no odor could be gentilitious. 
P. Robinson, Under the Sun, p. 306. 
gentility (jen-til'i-ti ), n. [< ME. gentylete, < OF. 
gentilite, gentle forth, F. gentilite = Sp. genti- 
lidad = Pg. gentilidade = It. gentilita, heathen- 
ism, < L. gentilita(t-)s, relationship in the same 
gens, LL. heathenism, < gentilis, gentile: see 
gentile, gentle.'] 1. The quality or state of be- 
longing to a certain gens, clan, or family; gen- 
tile relationship or stock. [Obsolete or ar- 
chaic.] 
The surname is the name of the gentilitle and stocke, 
which the sonne doth take of the father alwaies, as the 
old Romans did. Sir T. Smith, Commonwealth, iii. 8. 
"Prohibition of marriage would surely endanger" the 
gentility of the nation. N. and Q., 7th ser., IV. 186. 
The grammarian observes that there is a certain agna- 
tion and gentility among words. All the cases of the noun 
Kniilins are descended from the nominative, just as all 
the members of the gens ^Emilia, all the ^Emilii, are de- 
scended from a single original jfimilius. [Varro, De Lin- 
gu& Latins, viii. 4.] The Romans, therefore, regarded gen- 
tility as a kinship among men not essentially different from 
agnation. Maine, Early Law and Custom, p. 283, note A. 
2f. Noble or gentle birth. 
Hy ham yelpeth of hare gentylete, uor thet hy weneth 
by of gentile woze [They boast of their gentility, for they 
think to be of gentle blood]. 
Ayenbite of Inwyt (E. E. T. S.), p. 89. 
Eyther the communers onlye must be welthy, and the 
gentyl and noble men needy and miserable : or elles, ex- 
cludyng gentylitle, al men must be of one degre and sort, 
and a new name prouided. 
Sir T. Ehjot, The Governour, i. 2. 
3f. People of good birth ; gentry. 
Gavelkind must needs in the end make a poor gentility. 
Sir J. Davies, State of Ireland. 
4f. Gentile character; paganism; heathenism. 
Places, landes, or coastes, ... as well within the coastes 
and limites of gentility as within the dominions and Seig- 
niories of the sayd mighty Emperour and Duke. 
Hakluyfs Voyages, I. 272. 
When the people began to espie the falshood of oracles, 
whereupon all ijentilitie was built, their heart were vtterly 
anerted from it. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, v. 2. 
5. The quality or state of being genteel ; con- 
dition, appearance, or manner characteristic of 
polite society ; genteel behavior; fashionable- 
ness; stylishness. 
"Tis meet a gentle heart should ever shew 
By courtesie the fruit of true gentility. 
Sir J. Harington. 
Neither did they establish their claims to gentility at the 
expense of their tailors for as yet those offenders against 
the pockets of society, and the tranquillity of all aspiring 
young gentlemen, were unknown in New Amsterdam. 
Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 175. 
In the elder English dramatists, . . . there is a con- 
stant recognition of gentility, as if a noble behaviour were 
as easily marked in the society of their age as color is in our 
American population. Emerson, Essays, 1st ser., p. 223. 
