lenity
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (1)
- mercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerantSynonyms: lenienceleniencymildnessType of mercifulness, mercy
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Len′i·ty (-ty̆), noun
Origin: 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.
His exceeding lenity disposes us to be somewhat too severe.— Thomas Babington Macaulay
Synonyms: Gentleness; kindness; tenderness; softness; humanity; clemency; mercy.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54