lenis

American  

[lee-nis, ley-] / ˈli nɪs, ˈleɪ- /

adjective

1. pronounced with relatively weak muscular tension and breath pressure, resulting in weak sound effect: in stressed or unstressed position, (b, d, g, j, v, th̸, z, andzh ) are lenis in English, as compared with (p, t, k, ch, f, th, s, andsh ), which are fortis.

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noun

plural

lenes

1. a lenis consonant.

lenis British  

/ ˈliːnɪs /

adjective

1. (of a consonant) articulated with weak muscular tension

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noun

1. a consonant, such as English b or v, pronounced with weak muscular force

Etymology

Origin of lenis

First recorded in 1925–30; from Latin: “soft, mild, gentle”

Example Sentences

If the phrase that is to be sung commences with a word beginning with an initial vowel, care must be taken to employ the normal coup de glotte, or spiritus lenis.

From The Voice Its Production, Care and Preservation by Miller, Frank E.

Remarks.—Twenty-one animals obtained from Lynndyl, Millard County, are all intergrades between lenis and aureiventris.

From The Pocket Gophers (Genus Thomomys) of Utah, Vol. 1 No. 1 Kansas University Publications. by Durrant, Stephen D.

Sheffield, Buckinghamiæ Dux, mihi lenis et amicissimus, fato functus est Feb.

From The Works of Alexander Pope, Volume 1 New Edition by Pope, Alexander

The length of the skull is second only to that of lenis as also is the length and breadth of the rostrum relative to the basilar length.

From The Pocket Gophers (Genus Thomomys) of Utah, Vol. 1 No. 1 Kansas University Publications. by Durrant, Stephen D.

A. Di, quibus audaces amor est servare carinas Saevaque ventosi mulcere pericula ponti, Sternite molle fretum placidumque advertite votis Concilium, et lenis non obstrepat unda precanti: 5 Grande tuo rarumque damus, Neptune, profundo Depositum.

From Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Luce, Edmund