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

For comparisons with Thomomys bottae lenis, contractus, sevieri, bonnevillei, and robustus see accounts of those forms.

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

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.

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

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

At present, tivius is isolated on the Ca�on Mountains in eastern Millard County, while the range of albicaudatus and contractus have been separated by that of lenis.

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

Ingenium cui nulla malum sententia suadet, Ut faceret facinus; lenis tamen, haud malus; idem Doctus, fidelis, suavis homo, facundus, suoque Contentus, scitus, atque beatus, secunda loquens in Tempore commodus, et verborum vir paucorum.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by Dunlop, John