mercy

¹

[mur-see]

noun

plural

mercies 

1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence.

   Have mercy on the poor sinner.

   Synonyms: tenderness, lenity, leniency, clemency, indulgence, forgiveness, mildness
   Antonyms: cruelty

2. the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing.

   an adversary wholly without mercy.

3. the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.

4. an act of kindness, compassion, or favor.

   She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.

5. something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing.

   It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.

Mercy

²

[mur-see]

noun

1. a female given name.

mercy

/ ˈmɜːsɪ /

noun

1. compassionate treatment of or attitude towards an offender, adversary, etc, who is in one's power or care; clemency; pity

2. the power to show mercy

   to throw oneself on someone's mercy

3. a relieving or welcome occurrence or state of affairs

   his death was a mercy after weeks of pain

4. in the power of

Word History and Origins

Origin of mercy¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English merci, from Old French, earlier mercit, from Latin mercēd-, stem of mercēs “wages” ( Late Latin, Medieval Latin: “heavenly reward”), derivative of merc-, stem of merx “commodity, goods, merchandise”

Word History and Origins

Origin of mercy¹

C12: from Old French, from Latin mercēs wages, recompense, price, from merx goods

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at the mercy of, entirely in the power of; subject to: Also at one's mercy.

   They were at the mercy of their captors.

see at the mercy of.

Example Sentences

The instant photo is at the mercy of light and luck, which are part of the magic, he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“What can any average person expect if they kill the mayor in front of his family, in front of thousands of people? We are completely at the mercy of the criminals.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Abu Lulu dismissed the man's pleas with a wave of his arms, stating: "I will never have mercy. Our job is only killing."

Read more on BBC

The left oar snapped, then the right, and suddenly the boat was at the mercy of the waves.

Read more on Literature

The problem with the system is that with such slim majorities in parliament, a coalition is always at the mercy of a smaller party withdrawing support.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• benevolence 
• blessing 
• charity 
• clemency 
• forgiveness 
• generosity 
• goodwill 
• grace 
• leniency 
• pity 
• sympathy 
• tolerance