Lenient

  WORD OF THE DAY

lenient / adjective / ˈlē-nē-ənt  , -nyənt 

Definition
1a: of mild and tolerant disposition or effect
1b: not harsh, severe, or strict
2a: exerting a soothing or easing influence
2b: relieving pain or stress

Examples
The Justice Department could seek a more lenient prison sentence for Greenberg based on the extent of his cooperation.
— David Shortell, CNN, 18 Oct. 2021

Students are required to be vaccinated, but the school has been lenient with those opposed to getting the shots.
— orlandosentinel.com, 16 Sep. 2021

Did you know?
Lenient is a word with a soothing history. It derives from the Latin verb lenire, meaning "to soothe" or "to soften" (itself from lenis, meaning "soft or mild").
The first, now archaic, sense of lenient referred to something soothing that relieved pain and stress.
That meaning was shared by lenitive, an earlier derivative of lenire that was commonly used with electuary (a "lenitive electuary" being a medicated paste prepared with honey or another sweet and used by veterinarians to alleviate pain in the mouth).
Linguists also borrowed lenis to describe speech sounds that are softened—for instance, the "t" sound in gutter is lenis.
By way of comparison, the "t" sound in toe is fortis.