A person who is not Jewish, particularly in Jewish religious or cultural contexts.
From Latin 'gentilis' meaning of the same clan or tribe, from 'gens' (nation, people). Used in Biblical translations to distinguish between Jewish and non-Jewish peoples, literally meaning 'of the nations'.
The word comes from Latin meaning 'of the nations,' reflecting the ancient Jewish perspective that distinguished between the chosen people and 'the nations' of the world. It's fascinating how a word about tribal belonging became central to interfaith dialogue and religious identity.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.