lenitive

4 definitions found

lenitive - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Lenitive \Len"i*tive\ (-t[i^]v), a. [Cf. F. l['e]nitif. See
     Lenient.]
     Having the quality of softening or mitigating, as pain or
     acrimony; assuasive; emollient.
     [1913 Webster]

  Lenitive \Len"i*tive\, n. [Cf. F. l['e]nitif.]
     1. (Med.)
        (a) A medicine or application that has the quality of
            easing pain or protecting from the action of
            irritants.
        (b) A mild purgative; a laxative.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. That which softens or mitigates; that which tends to allay
        passion, excitement, or pain; a palliative.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              There is one sweet lenitive at least for evils,
              which Nature holds out; so I took it kindly at her
              hands, and fell asleep.               --Sterne.
        [1913 Webster]

lenitive - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  lenitive
      adj 1: moderating pain or sorrow by making it easier to bear
             [syn: alleviative, alleviatory, lenitive,
             mitigative, mitigatory, palliative]
      n 1: remedy that eases pain and discomfort

lenitive - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  93 Moby Thesaurus words for "lenitive":
     alleviating, alleviative, alleviator, altering, analgesic,
     anesthetic, anodyne, assuager, assuasive, balm, balmy, balsam,
     balsamic, benumbing, bounding, brilliantine, calmant, calmative,
     cathartic, chrism, cleansing, cold cream, collyrium, cream,
     cushion, deadening, demulcent, dolorifuge, dulling, easing,
     embrocation, emollient, extenuating, extenuatory, eye-lotion,
     eyewash, face cream, hand lotion, inunction, inunctum, lanolin,
     limitative, limiting, lotion, lubricant, lubricating,
     lubricational, lubricative, mitigating, mitigative, mitigator,
     mitigatory, moderator, modificatory, modifying, modulator,
     modulatory, mollifier, nard, numbing, ointment, pacificator,
     pacifier, pain-killing, palliative, peacemaker, pomade, pomatum,
     purgative, qualificative, qualificatory, qualifying, relieving,
     remedial, restraining hand, restricting, restrictive, salve,
     sedative, shock absorber, softening, soother, soothing,
     soothing syrup, spikenard, stabilizer, subduing, temperer,
     tranquilizer, unction, unguent, unguentum, wiser head