English Explanatory Dictionary

mercy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another.
  2. Forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.
  3. A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion.
  4. Instances of forbearance or forgiveness.
  5. A blessing; something to be thankful for.
  6. A children's game in which two players stand opposite with hands grasped and twist each other's arms until one gives in.
verb
  1. To feel mercy
  2. To show mercy; to pardon or treat leniently because of mercy
intj
  1. Expressing surprise or alarm.
name
  1. A female given name from English.
name
  1. A surname from French.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɜːsi/ mûrʹsē /ˈmɝsi/ en-us-mercy.ogg

Word forms

mercy mercies mercying mercied Mercys

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

ruth kindness leniency quarter pity sympathy bowels commiseration compassion empathy fellow feeling mercy remorse rue tenderheartedness loving-kindness

Antonyms

mercilessness ruthlessness cruelty

Related words

Mercedes Merry

Derived words

angel of mercy at the mercy of bemercy Feast of the Divine Mercy God-a-mercy grand mercy have mercy house of mercy lawks a-mercy laws-a-mercy may God have mercy on your soul merciful mercify merciless merciness mercy bucket mercy buckets mercy chair mercy flush mercy fuck mercy killer mercy killing mercy-killing mercy me mercy rule mercy sake's alive mercy seat nonmercy throw oneself on someone's mercy unmercied unmercy
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