Word of the Day

: April 28, 2010

clement

adjective KLEM-unt

What It Means

1 : inclined to be merciful : lenient

2 : mild

clement in Context

Alex Marsh is considered a clement judge -- the type who lets first-time offenders off the hook and gives repeat offenders the minimum required jail time.

Did You Know?

Defendants in court cases probably don't spend much time worrying about inclement weather. They're too busy hoping to meet a clement judge so they will be granted clemency. They should hope they don't meet an inclement judge! "Clement," "inclement," and "clemency" all derive from the Latin "clemens," which means "mild" or "calm." All three terms can refer to an individual's degree of mercy or to the relative pleasantness of the weather.