I.imperf. lenibant, Verg. A. 4, 528: “lenibat,” id. ib. 6, 468; fut. lenibunt, Prop. 3, 20 (4, 21), 32), v. a. and n. 1. lenis.
I. Act., to make soft or mild, to soften, mollify, alleviate, mitigate, assuage, soothe, calm (syn.: mitigo, placo, sedo, mulceo).
A. Lit.: “lapsana alvum lenit et mollit,” Plin. 20, 9, 37, § 96: “nuces leniunt saporem caeparum,” id. 23, 8, 77, § 147: “tumores,” id. 33, 6, 35, § 110: “collectiones impetusque,” id. 22, 25, 58, § 122: “stomachum latrantem,” Hor. S. 2, 2, 18: “volnera,” to assuage, heal, Prop. 3, 20 (4, 21), 32: “clamorem,” to soften, moderate, Hor. C. 1, 27, 7: “inopiam frumenti lenire,” to make amends for, cause to be less felt, Sall. J. 91.—
B. Trop., to render mild, to appease, calm, pacify, etc.: “senem illum tibi dedo ulteriorem, ut lenitum reddas,” Plaut. Bacch. 5, 2, 31: “illum saepe lenivi iratum,” Cic. Att. 6, 2, 2: “temperantia animos placat ac lenit,” id. Fin. 1, 14, 47: “te ipsum dies leniet, aetas mitigabit,” id. Mur. 31, 65: “epulis multitudinem imperitam,” id. Phil. 2, 45, 116: “desiderium crebris epistolis,” id. Fam. 15, 21, 1: “se multa consolatione,” id. Q. Fr. 3, 5, 4: “diem tempusque ... leniturum iras,” Liv. 2, 45: “seditionem,” id. 6, 16: “animum ferocem,” Sall. J. 11: “saepius fatigatus lenitur,” id. ib. 111, 3: “lenire dolentem Solando,” Verg. A. 4, 393.—*
II. Neutr., to become soft or mild, to be softened, mitigated: “dum irae leniunt,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 6, 100; cf. Brix ad loc.
