clemency
UK /ˈklɛ.mən.si/ · US /ˈklɛ.mən(t).si/ noun
Forms clemencies
- noun The gentle or kind exercise of power; leniency, mercy; compassion in judging or punishing.
- noun (law) A pardon, commutation, or similar reduction, removal, or postponement of legal penalties by an executive officer of a state.
- noun (now rare) Mildness of weather.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English clemency, clemencie, from Latin clēmentia.
Gradually eclipsed Middle English clemence, from Old French clemence, from the same Latin origin.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Disposition to forgive and spare, as offenders; mildness of temper; gentleness; tenderness; mercy.
- noun Mildness or softness of the elements; as, the clemency of the season.
Etymology [L. clementia, fr. clemens mild, calm.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “clemency”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details