gentling
SayJENT-lingUS/ˈd͡ʒɛntlɪŋ/UK/ˈdʒɛntlɪŋ/
- 1Present participle and gerund of gentle.
The trainer was gentling the colt for weeks before anyone tried to ride it.
Years of gentling wild horses had given him calloused, careful hands.
Note
One -ing form carries every use of the verb, so the construction decides the meaning. With an object it means taming or soothing (gentling a colt, gentling a nervous animal), and as a gerund it names that patient work itself. Without an object it describes something growing gentle on its own. The old sense of ennobling a person is obsolete; leave it to historical writing.
gentling is a form of gentle
gentle, verb: To soothe or calm someone, or to make something milder. Full entry
- Spelling
- gentle → gentling: drop the e, add -ing
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