I.softness, smoothness, gentleness, mildness.
I. Lit.: “vini, opp. asperitas,” Plin. 14, 19, 24, § 120: “lini,” id. 13, 12, 26, § 82: “Arar in Rhodanum influit incredibili lenitate,” slowness, Caes. B. G. 1, 12: “vocis,” mildness, Cic. de Or. 2, 43, 182: “smaragdi viridis lenitas,” delicate green, Plin. 37, 5, 16, § 63.—
II. Trop.
A. In gen., mildness, gentleness, tenderness, lenity: “non est jam lenitati locus, severitatem res ipsa flagitat,” Cic. Cat. 2, 4, 6: “dare se ad lenitatem,” id. Fam. 13, 1, 4: “animi, with mollitia,” id. Sull. 6, 18: “animadvertendi,” id. Part. Or. 22, 78: “legum,” id. Rab. Perd. 3, 10: “remissa nimis lenitate uti,” Gell. 11, 18, 6.—