English
leniency
Leniency comes from Latin lēniō ‘to soften, soothe’, from lēnis ‘soft’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁- ‘lazy, slow’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*leh₁-‘lazy, slow’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*lēnis‘soft, mild’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElēnis‘soft’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElēniō‘to soften, soothe’
- Englishtodayleniency
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*leh₁-‘lazy, slow’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*lēnis‘soft, mild’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElēnis‘soft’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElēniō‘to soften, soothe’
- Englishtodayleniency
Formed from lenience + -y
Proto-Indo-European *leh₁- ‘lazy, slow’
Proto-Italic *lēnis ‘soft, mild’
Latin lēnis ‘smooth, soft, gentle’
Latin lēniō ‘to soften, soothe’
English lenience
Linked words
through Latin lēnis ‘soft’
Today it means
noun The quality of mercy or forgiveness, especially in the assignment of punishment as in a court case.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *leh₁- / leniency