Lenience

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈliːni.ən(t)s/

Definitions

1. The attribute of demonstrating compassion and tolerance is reflected in the inclination to be forgiving and adaptable in judgments
2. An approach marked by kindness and understanding reveals a person's disposition toward mercy and forgiveness in their interactions
3. A characteristic of being mild and forgiving entails a willingness to be compassionate and flexible in assessments and decisions

Etymology: "Lenience" is built from the Latin "lenis," meaning "soft," and the verb "lenire," "to soften, soothe." The Latin verb "lenire" gave rise to the stem "lenior"-related forms, and English took the noun by way of the suffix "-ence," which signals a state or quality. So the word is essentially a softness of attitude: a condition of being gentle when strictness would be easy. The root "lenis" is worth noticing because it has a physical sense as well as a moral one. Latin used it of smooth surfaces and gentle breezes, and that sense of softness pressed against roughness is what the word carries when it describes someone who will not press too hard. A stern judge who declines to apply the full penalty is, in this sense, exercising the same softness that the Romans attached to a gentle wind.

Synonyms: mercy, forbearance, clemency

Antonyms: severity, harshness