Lenity
/ˈlɛn.ɪ.ti/noun
Gentleness or mildness, especially in the treatment of others.
Did you know?Lenity comes from Latin *lenitas*, from *lenis* meaning “soft, mild, gentle,” a root that also gave English *lenient* and even the idea of something being physically smooth or easy to pass over.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*slei-
“to be smooth, pliant, or slippery”
Latin
Latin
lenis
“soft, mild, gentle”
Latin
Latin
lenitas
“gentleness, mildness”
Old French
Old French
lenité
“gentleness, mildness”
Middle English
English
lenite
“gentleness, mildness”
Modern English
English
lenity
“gentleness or mildness, especially in punishment or treatment”