摘要：“Lenient”源自拉丁语“leniens”，是动词“lenire”（软化、缓解）的现在分词形式，意为“使柔和”或“减轻”。“Lenire”与“lenis”（柔和的）相关，可能源于印欧语系的“*le-n-”（柔软）。这个词通过古法语“lenient”进入英语

lenient

英 ['liːniənt] 美 ['liːniənt]

adj.宽大的；仁慈的

“Lenient”源自拉丁语“leniens”，是动词“lenire”（软化、缓解）的现在分词形式，意为“使柔和”或“减轻”。“Lenire”与“lenis”（柔和的）相关，可能源于印欧语系的“*le-n-”（柔软）。这个词通过古法语“lenient”进入英语，约在17世纪确立其现代含义。最初，“lenient”多用于医学，指缓解疼痛或症状，后逐渐扩展到法律、道德等领域，形容宽容或不苛刻的态度。

◉外刊例句

① 《The Guardian》 (2023年9月15日)

Critics argue that the court was too lenient in sentencing the corporate fraudsters.

批评者认为，法庭对企业欺诈者的判决过于宽大。

② 《The New York Times》 (2024年5月22日)

Teachers debated whether a lenient grading policy might encourage student effort or lower standards.

教师们讨论宽松的评分政策是会鼓励学生努力，还是会降低标准。

◉经典名著

① 《傲慢与偏见》（Pride and Prejudice）——简·奥斯汀 (1813年)

Mr. Bennet was too lenient with his daughters, allowing them freedoms others frowned upon.

② 《罪与罚》（Crime and Punishment）——费奥多尔·陀思妥耶夫斯基 (1866年)

The judge’s lenient sentence surprised those who expected harsh punishment.

法官的宽大判决令期待严厉惩罚的人们感到惊讶。

◉Usage Notes

(1) Most of the others appealed against their life prison sentences with death, hoping for more lenient ones.

(1) 其他大部分罪犯都进行了上诉，反对法院对他们终生监禁的判决，并希望受到更宽大的处理。

◉Usage Examples

If you're not overly strict, and you show tolerance and mercy when someone does something wrong, you're being lenient.

Lenient means tolerant or relaxed, and is usually used when we’re talking about someone’s attitude toward discipline. In 19th-century child-rearing books, we often read about strict teachers who punish children just for squirming in their seats. These days teachers are more likely to be lenient, more understanding. If you're a big fan of discipline and punishment, however, lenient might mean "soft" or "indulgent."

1. [ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词]仁慈的；宽大的；宽容的 When someone in authority is lenient, they are not as strict or severe as expected. [oft ADJ with n]

① He believes the government already is lenient with drug traffickers...

他认为政府对毒贩已经很宽容了。

② Professor Oswald takes a sightly more lenient view.

奥斯瓦尔德教授的观点稍微温和些。

leniently

③ Many people believe reckless drivers are treated too leniently.

很多人认为对鲁莽驾驶的司机处罚过轻。

来源：学无用的英语