clemency

English

Etymology

From Latin clementia.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈklɛm.ən.si/
• (US) IPA: /ˈklɛm.ən.si/, /ˈklɛm.ənt.si/

Noun

clemency (usually uncountable; plural clemencies)

1. The gentle or kind exercise of power; leniency, mercy; compassion in judging or punishing.
   • 1601, William Shakespeare, Hamlet:

     For vs, and for our Tragedie, / Heere stooping to your Clemencie: / We begge your hearing Patientlie.

   • 2010, Priyamvada Gopal, The Guardian, 4 May 2010:

     A death sentence for Kasab, seen to represent Pakistan, will be widely supported in a frenzy of righteous retribution. Presidential clemency is politically improbable.

2. (now rare) Mildness of weather.

Related terms

• clement

Translations

leniency, mercy

Armenian: գթություն (hy) (gt’ut’yun) Finnish: lempeys (fi)

French: clémence (fr) f. Russian: милосердие (ru)

mildness of weather