Clemency Meaning
/ˈklɛ.mən.si/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe gentle or kind exercise of power; leniency, mercy; compassion in judging or punishing.
nounA pardon, commutation, or similar reduction, removal, or postponement of legal penalties by an executive officer of a state.
Sentence Examples
I'll never ask for clemency.
Islam is a religion of clemency.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The governor granted ____ to the prisoner due to his terminal illness.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The prisoner asked for ____ from the judge during the trial.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English clemency, clemencie, from Latin clēmentia. Gradually eclipsed Middle English clemence, from Old French clemence, from the same Latin origin.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"For vs, and for our Tragedie, / Heere stooping to your Clemencie: / We begge your hearing Patientlie."
— c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 267, column 2:
"Notwithstanding, that I be not farther tedious vnto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest heare vs of thy clemencie a few words."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 24:4:
"A death sentence for Kasab, seen to represent Pakistan, will be widely supported in a frenzy of righteous retribution. Presidential clemency is politically improbable."
— 2010 May 4, Priyamvada Gopal, “Executing Mumbai gunman is not the answer”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 13 Mar 2023:
"Judicial intervention might, for example, be warranted in the face of a scheme whereby a state official flipped a coin to determine whether to grant clemency, or in a case where the State arbitrarily denied a prisoner any access to its clemency process."
— 2000, Sandra Day O'Connor, Supreme Court of the United States, edited by Frank D. Wagner, Ohio Adult Parole Authority v. Woodard, 523 U.S. 272 (1998) (United States Reports; 523) (judicial opinion), Washington: United States Government Printing Office, →ISBN, Opinion of O'Connor, J., page 289:
"Now of all theſe Things there is ſuch a conſtant Continuance, by reaſon of the Clemency of the Climate, that ſcarce the leaſt Famine, which frequenteth other Countries, hath been felt in England theſe 400 Years."
— 1748, Edward Chamberlayne, chapter IV, in Magnae Britanniae notitia: or, the present state of Great Britain. With diverse reflections upon the ancient state thereof, London: Printed for S. Birt, T. Longman, T. Shewel, […] , →OCLC, page 31:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The governor granted ____ to the prisoner due to his terminal illness.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The prisoner asked for ____ from the judge during the trial.