lenient
[ lee-nee-uhnt, leen-yuhnt ]
adjective
agreeably tolerant; permissive; indulgent: He tended to be lenient toward the children. More lenient laws encouraged greater freedom of expression.
Archaic. softening, soothing, or alleviative.
Origin of lenient
1First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin lēnient-, stem of lēniēns “softened,” present participle of lēnīre “to alleviate, soften, soothe,” derivative of lēnis lenis
Other words from lenient
- le·ni·ent·ly, adverb
- su·per·le·ni·ent, adjective
- su·per·le·ni·ent·ly, adverb
- un·le·ni·ent, adjective
- un·le·ni·ent·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for lenient
lenient
/ (ˈliːnɪənt) /
adjective
showing or characterized by mercy or tolerance
archaic caressing or soothing
Origin of lenient
1C17: from Latin lēnīre to soothe, from lēnis soft
Derived forms of lenient
- leniency or lenience, noun
- leniently, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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