adj. Capable of easing pain or discomfort. n. A lenitive medicine. [Middle English lenitif, from Old French, from Medieval Latin lēnītīvus, from Latin lēnītus, past participle of lēnīre, to soothe, from lēnis, soft; see lē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] leni·tive·ly adv. |
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