/lee"nis, lay"-/ , adj., n., pl. lenes /lee"neez, lay"-/ . Phonet.
adj.
1. pronounced with relatively weak muscular tension and breath pressure, resulting in weak sound effect: in stressed or unstressed position, /b, d, g, j, v, dh, z/ and /zh/ are lenis in English, as compared with /p, t, k, ch, f, th, s/ and /sh/ , which are fortis. Cf. fortis (def. 1).
n.
2. a lenis consonant.
[ 1925-30; ]