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
Synonyms:
interjection
Used to express surprise, annoyance, fear, etc.
Webster's New World
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:
mercyPlural:
merciesIdioms, 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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