5 definitions found for lenity

Lenity LEN'ITY, n. [L. lenitas, from lenis, mild, soft.]
Mildness of temper; softness; tenderness; mercy. Young offenders may be treated with lenity. It is opposed to severity and rigor.

lenity n 1: mercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerant [syn: lenience, leniency, mildness, lenity]

lenity
n. (pl. -ies) literary 1 mercifulness, gentleness.
2 an act of mercy.
Etymology: F lénité or L lenitas f. lenis gentle

Lenity Len"i*ty (-t[y^]), n. [L. lenitas, fr. lenis soft, mild: cf. OF. lenit['e]. 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. His exceeding lenity disposes us to be somewhat too severe. --Macaulay. Syn: Gentleness; kindness; tenderness; softness; humanity; clemency; mercy.

lenity n. Mildness, clemency, gentleness, tenderness, mercy, kindness, forbearance, lenience, leniency.