lenify, v.
(ˈliːnɪfaɪ)
Also 6–7 lenefie, -ifie.
[f. L. lēni-s soft, mild + -fy.]
† 1. trans. with material object: To relax, make soft or supple (some part of the body); to render (cider) mellow. Also, to mitigate (a physical condition). Obs.
| 1574 Newton Health Mag. 29 Egges..poched..do aswage and lenifie it [the lower part of the belly]. 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 49 Oyle of Elder-flowers doth lenifie and purge the skin. a 1640 Jackson Creed x. xxi. §7 He must..enforce himself..to lenify the rotten sores of their ulcerous consciences. 1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden lx, The Mucilage [of Fleawort]..helps to lenifie the drynesse of the mouth and throat. 1664 Evelyn Pomona Gen. Advt. (1729) 95 Two or three Eggs whole put into an Hogshead of Cider..sometimes rarely lenifies and gentilizes it. 1694 Salmon Bate's Dispens. i. (1713) 250 It is an excellent Pectoral,..lenifies Roughness, takes away Hoarsness. |
| absol. 1710 T. Fuller Pharm. Extemp. 145 The uses of this [Emulsion] are great..summarily to Lenify, Supple. 1712 tr. Pomet's Hist. Drugs I. 57 Unrefined [Sugar] to levigate and lenify. |
2. With immaterial object: To assuage, mitigate, soften, soothe (pain, suffering, etc.). Also, to mitigate (a sentence). Now
rare.
| 1568 tr. P. Martyr's Comm. Rom. 355 The feare is eyther lenified, or els sometymes vtterly layd away. 1569 Painter Pal. Pleas. (1575) II. Ep. Ded., Musike..lenifyeth sorrowe. 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. 76 She hung about his knees, and..desired him the sentence might be lenefied. 1622 Fletcher Sp. Curate iv. v, This Cataplasme of a well cozen'd Lawyer, Laid to my stomach, lenifies my Fever. 1656 Baxter Reformed Pastor 447 Lenifie their minds by a deprecation of offence in a word. 1681 Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 260 Lord Treasurer Clifford..could not endure I should lenify my style. 1697 Dryden æneid xii. 594 These first infused, to Lenifie the pain. 1707 Reflex. upon Ridicule 184 To lenifie the ill Humour of our Slanderers. 1882 Gd. Words 786 She was able to look on the whole blunder with calmness, lenified in the humility it brought. |
Hence
ˈlenifying vbl. n. and ppl. a.| 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 36 It hath a lenifying and anodine quality. 1626 Bacon Sylva §51 Cow milke..is..proper for..all manner of Lenifyings. 1650 Baxter Saint's R. ii. (1654) 259 The lenifying of exasperated and exulcerated minds. 1662 H. Stubbe Ind. Nectar iii. 37 This he reputes to be hot and moist, and of a lenifying nature. 1758 Descr. Thames 177 The Fat of a Trout is of a lenifying and dissolving Nature. |