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clemency

 
Dictionary: clem·en·cy   (klĕm'ən-sē) pronunciation
n., pl., -cies.
  1. A disposition to show mercy, especially toward an offender or enemy. See synonyms at mercy.
  2. A merciful, kind, or lenient act.
  3. Mildness, especially of weather.

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Thesaurus: clemency
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noun

    Kind, forgiving, or compassionate treatment of or disposition toward others: charity, grace, lenience, leniency, lenity, mercifulness, mercy. See forgiveness/vindictiveness.

Antonyms: clemency
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n

Definition: forgiveness
Antonyms: no mercy


Law Encyclopedia: Clemency
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This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

Leniency or mercy. A power given to a public official, such as a governor or the president, to in some way lower or moderate the harshness of punishment imposed upon a prisoner.

Clemency is considered to be an act of grace. It is based on the policy of fairness, justice, and forgiveness. It is not a right but rather a privilege, and one who is granted clemency does not have the crime forgotten, as in amnesty, but is forgiven and treated more leniently for the criminal acts. Clemency is similar to pardon inasmuch as it is an act of grace exempting someone from punishment. Commutation of an offender's sentence, however, is the lessening of the punishment based on the offender's own good conduct subsequent to his conviction.

Word Tutor: clemency
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: An act of mercy.

pronunciation The prisoners were granted clemency by the governor so they all went home.

Translations: Clemency
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - mildhed

Nederlands (Dutch)
genade, mildheid

Français (French)
n. - clémence

Deutsch (German)
n. - Nachsicht, Milde

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - επιείκεια

Italiano (Italian)
clemenza, grazia

Português (Portuguese)
n. - clemência (f)

Русский (Russian)
милосердие, снисхождение, мягкость климата

Español (Spanish)
n. - clemencia

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - mildhet, förbarmande

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
仁慈, 温和, 宽厚

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 仁慈, 溫和, 寬厚

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 온화, 자비로운 행위

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 温順, 温和, 女子名, 寛大

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) الرأفه, الرحمه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮רחמים, נעימות, נוחות‬


 
 
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amnesty
pardon
Commutation

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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