Meanings
comparative more lenitive · superlative most lenitive
plural lenitives
- An analgesic or other source of relief from pain
Their pain soft arts of pharmacy can ease, Thy breast alone no lenitives appease.
1899, Alexander Pope, The Iliad of Homer2 more examples
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.
1688, David Hume, The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I, Part EUpon the whole, as the author seems to share all the common miseries of life, he appears to partake likewise of its lenitives and abatements.
1825, Samuel Johnson, The Works of Samuel Johnson in Nine Volumes - A laxative.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectivemoderating pain or sorrow by making it easier to bear
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Polish łagodzący, uśmierzający
- łagodzącyTranslations
- uśmierzającyTranslations
Spanish lenitivo
- lenitivoTranslations
Cite this entry
lenitive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lenitive
“lenitive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lenitive. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lenitive,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lenitive.
Source: lenitive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.