Clement
/ˈklɛm.ənt/noun
Mild, merciful, or lenient in temperament or judgment.
Did you know?Clement is from Latin clemens, and the same ancient root also gave English words like claim and incline—words built around the idea of bending, leaning, or yielding.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*klei-
“to lean, bend, or slope”
Latin
Latin
clemens
“mild, gentle, merciful”
Late Latin
Latin
Clemens
“a personal name meaning 'merciful' or 'gentle'”
Old French
Old French
clement
“merciful, mild”
Middle English
English
clement
“mild in weather or temperament”
Modern English
English
clement
“merciful or lenient”