[li-nish-uh
n] 
| 1. | Phonetics. a phonological process that weakens consonant articulation at the ends of syllables or between vowels, causing the consonant to become voiced, spirantized, or deleted. |
| 2. | Linguistics. a type of Celtic mutation that derives historically from phonological lenition. |
| le·nite (lə-nīt') v. le·nit·ed, le·nit·ing, le·nites v. intr. To undergo an increase in sonority or become lenis. Said of consonant sounds, as when (p) changes to (b), (b) to (v), or (v) to (w). v. tr. To cause (a consonant sound) to lenite. le·ni'tion (-nĭsh'ən) n. |