释义 |
▪ I. lenity|ˈlɛnɪtɪ| Also 6–7 lenitie. [ad. OF. lenité or L. lēnitāt-em, lēnitās, f. lēnis soft, mild.] Mildness, gentleness, mercifulness (in disposition or behaviour). Also, an instance of this.
1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark xii. 1–8 But they now made worse through his lenitie and gentlenes, cast stones at him. 1592Nobody & Someb. in Simpson Sch. Shaks. (1878) I. 300 Hee is the verie soule of lenitie. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. ii. 103 A little more lenitie to Lecherie. 1612T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 6 That he do not there exercise lenitie, where the case requireth seueritie. 1649Bp. Reynolds Hosea v. 38 Such stiffenesse and sowrnesse as is inconsistent with the lenity of holiness. 1692E. Walker Epictetus' Mor. (1737) xvi, If I indulge, and not chastise my Boy, My Lenity his Morals may destroy. a1711Ken Lett. Wks. (1838) 93 To apply such ghostly lenities to her sorrow, as may set her at ease. 1748Butler Serm. Wks. 1874 II. 308 It is said, that our common fault towards the poor is..too great lenity and indulgence. 1779Jefferson Corr. Wks. 1859 I. 234 If it produces a proper lenity to our citizens in captivity, it will have the effect we meant. 1833I. Taylor Fanat. i. 13 Shall we, as Christians, wish to creep under the shelter of a corrupt lenity? 1863Geo. Eliot Romola lviii, Lenity to the prisoners would be the signal of attack for all its enemies. ▪ II. lenity obs. incorrect form of lenitive. |