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Fire Escape Partners
3465 25th Street, Suite 17
San Francisco, CA 94110 | (adjective, noun)
[LEN-i-tiv] 
adjective
1. able to reduce pain or suffering: "She has comforted many with her lenitive hands."
noun
2. a remedy that eases pain and discomfort: "It is an effective lenitive with few side-effects."
adverb form: lenitively
Origin:
Approximately 1540; from Medieval Latin, 'lenitivus'; from Latin, 'lenitus,' past participle of 'lenire': to soothe, from 'lenis': soft. In action:
"Women of fashion and character--I do not mean absolutely unblemished--are a necessary ingredient in the composition of good company; the attention which they require, and which is always paid them by well-bred men, keeps up politeness, and gives a habit of good-breeding; whereas men, when they live together without the lenitive of women in company, are apt to grow careless, negligent, and rough among one another."
Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694-1773). British statesman, man of letters. [Written to his godson, who eventually became his heir and successor.] Letter (December 4, 1765).
"Do you think that herbs or charms Can force the will? Some trials have been made In this foolish practice, but the ingredients Were lenitive poisons, such as are of force To make the patient mad; and straight the witch Swears by equivocation they are in love. The witch-craft lies in her rank blood. This night I will force confession from her. You told me You had got, within these two days, a false key Into her bed-chamber."
John Webster (1580?-1634). The Duchess of Malfi.
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