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 final entry in the logbook read: “After four score and three years, St. George Reef Light is dark. ... May Mother Nature show you mercy. You have been abandoned, but never will you be forgotten.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In a society so stratified by class, “opportunity” as the holy grail of social policy ultimately leaves outcomes to the untender mercies of the market.

Read more on Salon

He begged the judge for "mercy" and apologised to two of the women who testified against him.

Read more on BBC

“The auto industry, long built on global supply chains, now finds itself at the mercy of a single nation’s industrial policy,” said Michael Dunne, a longtime China automotive industry consultant, in a newsletter last week.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

We need to create alternatives so that our security and prosperity aren’t at the mercy of officials in Beijing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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