lenity

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: len=i=ty

CIDE DICTIONARY

lenity, n. [L. lenitas, fr. lenis soft, mild: cf. OF. lenité. See Lenient.].

 The state or quality of being lenient; mildness of temper or disposition; gentleness of treatment; softness; tenderness; clemency; -- opposed to severity and rigor.  [1913 Webster]
"His exceeding lenity disposes us to be somewhat too severe."

Syn. -- Gentleness; kindness; tenderness; softness; humanity; clemency; mercy.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

lenity, n. (pl. -ies) literary 1 mercifulness, gentleness.
2 an act of mercy.

Etymology

F l{eacute}nit{eacute} or L lenitas f. lenis gentle

ROGET THESAURUS

lenity

Lenity

N lenity, lenience, leniency, moderation, tolerance, toleration, mildness, gentleness, favor, indulgence, indulgency, clemency, mercy, forbearance, quarter, compassion, lenient, mild, mild as milk, gentle, soft, tolerant, indulgent, easy-going, clement, forbearing, long-suffering.

Moderation

N moderation, lenity, temperateness, gentleness, sobriety, quiet, mental calmness, moderating, anaphrodisia, relaxation, remission, mitigation, tranquilization, assuagement, contemporation, pacification, measure, juste milieu, golden mean, ariston metron, moderator, lullaby, sedative, lenitive, demulcent, antispasmodic, carminative, laudanum, rose water, balm, poppy, opiate, anodyne, milk, opium, poppy or mandragora, wet blanket, palliative, moderate, lenient, gentle, mild, mellow, cool, sober, temperate, reasonable, measured, tempered, calm, unruffled, quiet, tranquil, still, slow, smooth, untroubled, tame, peaceful, peaceable, pacific, halcyon, unexciting, unirritating, soft, bland, oily, demulcent, lenitive, anodyne, hypnotic, sedative, antiorgastic, anaphrodisiac, mild as mother's milk, milk and water, moderately, gingerly, piano, under easy sail, at half speed, within bounds, within compass, in reason, est modue in rebus, pour oil on troubled waters.