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Gently vs Kindly - What's the difference?

gently | kindly |

As adverbs the difference between gently and kindly

is that gently is in a gentle manner while kindly is in a kind manner, out of kindness.

As an adjective kindly is

having a kind personality.

gently

English

Adverb

(en-adv)
  • in a gentle manner

    • Antonyms

    * roughly

    kindly

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Having a kind personality.
    • A kindly old man sits on the park bench every afternoon feeding pigeons.
  • * Tennyson
    • The shade by which my life was crossed has made me kindly with my kind.
  • (obsolete) Favourable; gentle; auspicious; beneficent.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • In soft silence shed the kindly shower.
  • * Wordsworth
    • should e'er a kindlier time ensue
  • (obsolete) natural
  • * Book of Common Prayer
    • the kindly fruits of the earth
  • * Spenser
    • an herd of bulls whom kindly rage doth sting
  • * L. Andrews
    • Whatsoever as the Son of God he may do, it is kindly for Him as the Son of Man to save the sons of men.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In a kind manner, out of kindness.
    • He kindly offered to take us to the station in his car.
  • * 1900 , L. Frank Baum , The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 23
    • She was both beautiful and young to their eyes. Her hair was a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders. Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue, and they looked kindly upon the little girl.
  • in a favourable way.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 29 , author=Neil Johnston , title=Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Aguero was quick to block Hennessey's attempted clearance and the ball bounced kindly to Dzeko, who had the simplest of tasks to put City ahead.}}
  • Please; (used to make a polite request).
    • Kindly refrain from walking on the grass.
    Kindly move your car out of the front yard.
  • (US) With kind acceptance; .
    • I don't take kindly to threats.
    Aunt Daisy didn't take it kindly when we forgot her anniversary.

    Usage notes

    * (please) Kindly is used in a slightly more peremptory way than please. It is generally used to introduce a request with which the person addressed is expected to comply, and takes the edge off what would otherwise be a command. * (with kind acceptance) This sense is a ; it is usually found in questions and negative statements, as in the above example sentences.

    Synonyms

    * (in a kind manner) thoughtfully * (used to make polite requests) be so kind as to, please