v. 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 asswage 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. trans. 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. trans. 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 Lenifying vbl. sb. 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, Saints’ 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.
