Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.
Class V. Words Releasing to the Voluntary PowersDivision (II) Intersocial Volition
Section I. General Intersocial Volition
740. Lenity.
NOUN:LENITY, lenitence, lenitency; moderation [See Moderation]; tolerance, toleration; mildness, gentleness; favor; indulgence, indulgency [rare], clemence [obs.], clemency, mercy, for-bearance, quarter; compassion [See Pity].VERB:BE LENIENT &c. adj.; tolerate, bear with; parcere subjectis [L.], spare the vanquished, give quarter.
INDULGE; allow one to -go his own gait, – have his own way, spoil.
ADJECTIVE:LENIENT; mild, – as milk; gentle, soft; tolerant, indulgent, easy, moderate, complaisant, unconcerned, easy-going; clement (compassionate) [See Pity]; for-bearing; long-suffering.
QUOTATIONS:
- Lenity has almost always wisdom and justice on its side.—Ballou
- He was the mildest manner’d man That ever scuttled ship or cut a throat.—Byron
- Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge.—Coriolanus
- Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.—Timon of Athens