misericord
or mis·er·i·corde
[ miz-er-i-kawrd, mi-zer-i-kawrd ]
/ ˌmɪz ər ɪˈkɔrd, mɪˈzɛr ɪˌkɔrd /
noun
a room in a monastery set apart for those monks permitted relaxation of the monastic rule.
Also subsellium. a small projection on the underside of a hinged seat of a church stall, which, when the seat is lifted, gives support to a person standing in the stall.
a medieval dagger, used for the mercy stroke to a wounded foe.
QUIZZES
THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST
In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?
Question 1 of 10
seclusion
Origin of misericord
1200–50; Middle English misericorde literally, pity, mercy, an act of clemency <Middle French <Latin misericordia pity, equivalent to misericord- (stem of misericors) compassionate (miseri-, stem of miserēre to pity + cord- stem of cor heart) + -ia-y3
Words nearby misericord
miserabilism, miserabilist, miserable, misère, Miserere, misericord, miserly, misery, misery index, Misery loves company, misesteem
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for misericord
"It certainly looks like a misericord," remarked Reeves, drawing the rusty steel from its mouldy sheath.
Captured at Tripoli|Percy F. Westerman
British Dictionary definitions for misericord
misericord
misericorde
/ (mɪˈzɛrɪˌkɔːd) /
noun
a ledge projecting from the underside of the hinged seat of a choir stall in a church, on which the occupant can support himself while standing
Christianity
- a relaxation of certain monastic rules for infirm or aged monks or nuns
- a monastery where such relaxations can be enjoyed
a small medieval dagger used to give the death stroke to a wounded foe
Word Origin for misericord
C14: from Old French, from Latin misericordia compassion, from miserēre to pity + cor heart
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012