[lee-nis, ley-] 
adjective, noun, plural le⋅nes [lee-neez, ley-] . Phonetics| 1. | pronounced with relatively weak muscular tension and breath pressure, resulting in weak sound effect: in stressed or unstressed position, (b, d, g, j, v, th̸, z, and zh) are lenis in English, as compared with (p, t, k, ch, f, th, s, and sh), which are fortis. Compare fortis (def. 1). |
| 2. | a lenis consonant. |
| le·nis (lē'nĭs, lā'-) adj. Articulated with relatively low pressure of the airstream below the glottis, as English (b) and (d) compared with (p) and (t). [Latin lēnis, soft; see lē- in Indo-European roots.] |