Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GEN'TILE, n. [L. gentilis; Fr. gentil; Sp. gentil; from L. gens, nation, race; applied to pagans.]

In the Scriptures, a pagan; a worshiper of false gods; any person not a Jew or a Christian; a heathen. The Hebrews included in the term goim or nations, all the tribes of men who had not received the true faith, and were not circumcised. The Christians translated goim by the L. gentes, and imitated the Jews in giving the name gentiles to all nations who were not Jews or Christians. In civil affairs, the denomination was given to all nations who were not Romans. Encyc.