or misericorde
noun
Origin: ME misericorde < OFr < L misericordia < misericors, merciful < base of misereri (see Miserere) + cor, heart
See misericord in American Heritage Dictionary 4
or mis·er·i·corde
nounOrigin:
Origin: Middle English, pity
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Latin misericordia
Origin: , from misericors, misericord-, merciful
Origin: : miserērī, to feel pity; see miserere
Origin: + cor, cord-, heart; see kerd- in Indo-European roots
. Word History: A dagger, a support for someone who is standing, and a special monastic apartment share the same name because, oddly enough, they are all examples of mercy. The word misericord goes back to Latin misericordia, “mercy,” derived from misericors, “merciful,” which is in turn derived from miserērī, “to pity,” and cor, “heart.” In Medieval Latin the word misericordia denoted various merciful things, and these senses were borrowed into English. Misericordia referred to an apartment in a monastery where certain relaxations of the monastic rule were allowed, especially those involving food and drink. The word also designated a projection on the underside of a hinged seat in a choir stall against which a standing person could lean, no doubt a merciful thing during long services. Finally, misericordia was used for a dagger with which the death stroke was administered to a seriously wounded knight.Learn more about misericord