Mercy Definition

mûrsē
mercies
noun
mercies
A refraining from harming or punishing offenders, enemies, persons in one's power, etc.; kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded by fairness; forbearance and compassion.
Webster's New World
Imprisonment rather than the death penalty imposed on those found guilty of capital crimes.
Webster's New World
A disposition to forgive, pity, or be kind.
Webster's New World
The power to forgive or be kind; clemency.
To throw oneself on the mercy of the court.
Webster's New World
Kind or compassionate treatment; relief of suffering.
Webster's New World
interjection
Used to express surprise, annoyance, fear, etc.
Webster's New World
pronoun

A female given name, one of the less common Puritan virtue names.

Wiktionary
idiom
at the mercy of
  • Without any protection against; helpless before:

    drifting in an open boat, at the mercy of the elements.

American Heritage
at the mercy of
  • completely in the power of
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Mercy

Noun

Singular:
mercy
Plural:
mercies

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Mercy

Origin of Mercy

  • From Middle English merci, from Anglo-Norman merci (compare Old French merci, mercit), from Latin mercÄ“dem, accusative of mercÄ“s (“wages, fee, price"), from merx (“wares, merchandise"). Displaced native Middle English are, ore "mercy" (from Old English ār "mercy, grace"), Middle English mildse "mercy, clemency" (from Old English milds, milts "mercy, kindness").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old French merci from Medieval Latin mercēs from Latin reward

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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