Leniency (5)
I believe the answer is:
mercy
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">leniency</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I know that mercy is a type of leniency)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for mercy that I've seen before include "Pity" , "Clemency or compassion" , "Shakespeare 'The quality of . . . . . is not strained'" , "Compassion for the unfortunate" , "Forbearance" .)