Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CLEM'EN-CY, n. [L. clementia, from clemens, mild, smooth; whence Fr. clemence, It. clemenza, Sp. clemencia; W. llim, smooth; Heb. להם to be soft, mild, gentle.]

1. Mildness; softness; as, the clemency of the air. – Dryden.
2. Mildness of temper; gentleness or lenity of disposition; disposition to treat with favor and kindness. I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. – Acts xxiv.
3. Mercy, disposition to treat with lenity, to forgive or to spare, as offenders; tenderness in punishing; opposed to severity, harshness, or rigor. – Addison.