lēnĭtas (noun F) : 1. lenis
* Softness, smoothness, gentleness, mildness.
* 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.
* Trop.
* 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.
* In partic., of speech: elaborant alii in lenitate et aequabilitate, et puro quasi quodam et candido genere dicendi,Cic. Or. 16, 53: lenitas ejus sine nervis perspici potest,id. Brut. 48, 177: genus orationis cum lenitate quadam aequabili profluens,id. de Or. 2, 15, 64.

s. TLL