Lenitive

  • 1Lenitive — Len i*tive, n. [Cf. F. l[ e]nitif.] 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. [1913 Webster] 2. That which softens or mitigates; that… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2lenitive — [len′ə tiv] adj. [< ML lenitivus < L lenitus, pp. of lenire, to soften: see LENIENT] soothing or assuaging; lessening pain or distress n. anything that soothes; esp., a lenitive medicine …

    English World dictionary

  • 3Lenitive — Len i*tive ( t[i^]v), a. [Cf. F. l[ e]nitif. See {Lenient}.] Having the quality of softening or mitigating, as pain or acrimony; assuasive; emollient. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4lenitive — index medicinal, narcotic, remedial Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 5lenitive — (adj.) early 15c., from M.L. lenitivus, from L. lenitus, pp. of lenire to soften (see LENIENT (Cf. lenient)). As a noun, from early 15c …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6lenitive — 1. Soothing; relieving discomfort or pain. 2. Rarely used term for a demulcent. [L. lenio, pp. lenitus, to soften, fr. lenis, mild] * * * len·i·tive len ət iv adj alleviating pain or harshness lenitive n a lenitive medicine or application * * *… …

    Medical dictionary

  • 7lénitive — ● lénitif, lénitive adjectif (latin médiéval lenitivus, du latin classique lenire, adoucir) Littéraire. Lénifiant. ● lénitif, lénitive (synonymes) adjectif (latin médiéval lenitivus, du latin classique lenire, adoucir) Littéraire. Lénifiant.… …

    Encyclopédie Universelle

  • 8lenitive — adjective Etymology: Middle English lenitif, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin lenitivus, from Latin lenitus, past participle of lenire Date: 15th century alleviating pain or harshness ; soothing • lenitive noun • lenitively adverb …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 9lenitive — lenitively, adv. lenitiveness, n. /len i tiv/, adj. 1. softening, soothing, or mitigating, as medicines or applications. 2. mildly laxative. n. 3. a lenitive medicine or application. 4. a mild laxative. 5. Archaic. anything that softens or… …

    Universalium

  • 10lenitive — len•i•tive [[t]ˈlɛn ɪ tɪv[/t]] adj. 1) softening, soothing, or mitigating, as medicines or applications 2) mildly laxative 3) a lenitive medicine or application • Etymology: 1535–45; < ML lēnītīvus= Llēnīt(us), ptp. oflēnīre(see lenient) +… …

    From formal English to slang