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Mercy

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mercy¹

  • /ˈmɜːsi/ UK
  • /ˈmɝsi/ US

Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)si

Where it comes from

From Middle English mercy, merci, from Anglo-Norman merci (compare continental Old French merci, mercit), from Latin mercēs (“wages, fee, price”), from merx (“wares, merchandise”). Displaced native Old English mildheortnes (literally "mildheartedness"). Cognate with French merci, whence the doublet merci.

noun mercies

  1. uncountable Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another. She took mercy on him and quit embarrassing him.
  2. uncountable Forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate. Have mercy on the poor and assist them if you can.
  3. uncountable A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion. Mercy is one of his many virtues.
  4. countable Instances of forbearance or forgiveness. 1982, Bible (NKJV), Psalm 40:11a Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord
  5. countable A blessing; something to be thankful for. It was a mercy that we were not inside when the roof collapsed
  6. uncountable A children's game in which two players stand opposite with hands grasped and twist each other's arms until one gives in.

verb mercies · mercying · mercied

  1. To feel mercy I despised her; but I mercied her, too, and gave her sweet berries to eat, and led her to my lodge, and said to my best wife, ' Get up from my best skin, for the white squaw is a guest, and is weary.'
  2. To show mercy; to pardon or treat leniently because of mercy In the middle of the room is a young Infanta intended for Marguerite Theresa, born in 1651, daughter of Philip the fourth, whose portrait Velasquez took in 1658, to send to Leopold, who had just been elected Emperor of Germanyd and who mercied her in 1666.

interjection

  1. Expressing surprise or alarm. Mercy! Look at the state of you!

Mercy²

Where it comes from

From mercy in the 17th century; one of the less common Puritan virtue names. In modern use sometimes used to anglicize Spanish Mercedes.

proper noun

  1. A female given name from English. Mr Pecksniff was a moral man — a grave man, a man of noble sentiments and speech — and he had had her christened Mercy. Mercy! oh, what a charming name for such a pure–souled Being as the youngest Miss Pecksniff! Her sister’s name was Charity. There was a good thing! Mercy and Charity!

Mercy³

Where it comes from

Borrowed from French Mercy.

proper noun Mercys

  1. A surname from French.

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