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Webster 1913 Edition

Lenitive

Len′i-tive

(-tĭv)
,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
lénitif
. See
Lenient
.]
Having the quality of softening or mitigating, as pain or acrimony; assuasive; emollient.

Len′i-tive

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
lénitif
.]
1.
(Med.)
(a)
A medicine or application that has the quality of easing pain or protecting from the action of irritants.
(b)
A mild purgative; a laxative.
2.
That which softens or mitigates; that which tends to allay passion, excitement, or pain; a palliative.
There is one sweet
lenitive
at least for evils, which Nature holds out; so I took it kindly at her hands, and fell asleep.
Sterne.

Webster 1828 Edition

Lenitive

LEN'ITIVE

,
Adj.
[L. lenio, to soften.]
Having the quality of softening or mitigating, as pain or acrimony; assuasive; emollient.

LEN'ITIVE

, n.
1.
A medicine or application that has the quality of easing pain; that which softens or mitigates.
2.
A palliative; that which abates passion.

Definition 2024

lenitive

lenitive

English

Adjective

lenitive ‎(comparative more lenitive, superlative most lenitive)

  1. Analgesic, able to reduce pain or suffering.
  2. (of a person) Mild; gentle.

Noun

lenitive ‎(plural lenitives)

  1. An analgesic or other source of relief from pain
    • 1688, David Hume, The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I, Part E:
      It is now full time to free him from all these necessities, and to apply cordials and lenitives, after those severities which have already had their full course against him.
    • 1825, Samuel Johnson, The Works of Samuel Johnson in Nine Volumes:
      Upon the whole, as the author seems to share all the common miseries of life, he appears to partake likewise of its lenitives and abatements.
    • 1899, Alexander Pope, The Iliad of Homer:
      Their pain soft arts of pharmacy can ease, Thy breast alone no lenitives appease.

Italian

Adjective

lenitive

  1. feminine plural of lenitivo

Etymology

From Late Latin lenitivus, from Latin lenitus

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