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Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class V. Words Releasing to the Voluntary Powers
Division (II) Intersocial Volition
Section I. General Intersocial Volition

740. Lenity.

   NOUN:LENITY, lenitence, lenitency; moderation [See Moderation]; tolerance, toleration; mildness, gentleness; favor; indulgence, indulgency [rare], clemence [obs.], clemency, mercy, for-bearance, quarter; compassion [See Pity].
   VERB:BE LENIENT &c. adj.; tolerate, bear with; parcere subjectis [L.], spare the vanquished, give quarter.
  INDULGE; allow one to -go his own gait, – have his own way, spoil.
   ADJECTIVE:LENIENT; mild, – as milk; gentle, soft; tolerant, indulgent, easy, moderate, complaisant, unconcerned, easy-going; clement (compassionate) [See Pity]; for-bearing; long-suffering.
   QUOTATIONS:
  1. Lenity has almost always wisdom and justice on its side.—Ballou
  2. He was the mildest manner’d man That ever scuttled ship or cut a throat.—Byron
  3. Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge.—Coriolanus
  4. Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.—Timon of Athens