Also 6–7 lenitie. [ad. OF. lenité or L. lēnitāt-em, lēnitās, f. lēnis soft, mild.] Mildness, gentleness, mercifulness (in disposition or behavior). Also, an instance of this.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Mark xii. 1–8. But they now made worse through his lenitie and gentlenes, cast stones at him.
1592. Nobody & Someb., in Simpson, Sch. Shaks. (1878), I. 300. Hee is the verie soule of lenitie.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., III. ii. 103. A little more lenitie to Lecherie.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 6. That he do not there exercise lenitie, where the case requireth seueritie.
1649. Bp. Reynolds, Hosea, v. 38. Such stiffenesse and sowrnesse as is inconsistent with the lenity of holiness.
1692. E. Walker, Epictetus’ Mor. (1737), xvi. If I indulge, and not chastise my Boy, My Lenity his Morals may destroy.
a. 1711. Ken, Lett., Wks. (1838), 93. To apply such ghostly lenities to her sorrow, as may set her at ease.
1748. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 308. It is said, that our common fault towards the poor is … too great lenity and indulgence.
1779. T. Jefferson, Corr., Wks. 1859, I. 234. If it produces a proper lenity to our citizens in captivity, it will have the effect we meant.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., i. 13. Shall we, as Christians, wish to creep under the shelter of a corrupt lenity?
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, lviii. Lenity to the prisoners would be the signal of attack for all its enemies.
