lenity

  • 21rule of lenity — rule of len·i·ty / le nə tē/: a rule requiring that those ambiguities in a criminal statute relating to prohibitions and penalties be resolved in favor of the defendant when to do so would not be contrary to legislative intent Merriam Webster’s… …

    Law dictionary

  • 22rule of lenity — Where the intention of Congress is not clear from the act itself and reasonable minds might differ as to its intention, the court will adopt the less harsh meaning. U. S. v. Callanan, D.C.Mo., 173 F.Supp. 98,100. The judicial doctrine by which… …

    Black's law dictionary

  • 23mercy — mercy, charity, grace, clemency, lenity are comparable when meaning the disposition to show compassion or kindness in one s treatment of others, especially of those who offend one and who are in one s power to punish or rebuke. Mercy implies… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 24By one's favor — favor fa vor (f[=a] v[ e]r), n. [Written also favour.] [OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bh[=a]vaya to further, foster, causative of bh[=u] to become, be. Cf. {Be}. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 25Challenge for favor — favor fa vor (f[=a] v[ e]r), n. [Written also favour.] [OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bh[=a]vaya to further, foster, causative of bh[=u] to become, be. Cf. {Be}. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 26Challenge to the favor — favor fa vor (f[=a] v[ e]r), n. [Written also favour.] [OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bh[=a]vaya to further, foster, causative of bh[=u] to become, be. Cf. {Be}. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 27favor — fa vor (f[=a] v[ e]r), n. [Written also favour.] [OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bh[=a]vaya to further, foster, causative of bh[=u] to become, be. Cf. {Be}. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob. for… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 28In favor of — favor fa vor (f[=a] v[ e]r), n. [Written also favour.] [OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bh[=a]vaya to further, foster, causative of bh[=u] to become, be. Cf. {Be}. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 29In favor with — favor fa vor (f[=a] v[ e]r), n. [Written also favour.] [OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bh[=a]vaya to further, foster, causative of bh[=u] to become, be. Cf. {Be}. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 30To curry favor — favor fa vor (f[=a] v[ e]r), n. [Written also favour.] [OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bh[=a]vaya to further, foster, causative of bh[=u] to become, be. Cf. {Be}. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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