English Online Dictionary. What means mercy? What does mercy mean?
English
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. Cognate with French merci, whence the doublet merci.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈmɜːsi/
- (General American) enPR: mûrʹsē, IPA(key): /ˈmɝsi/
- Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)si
- Hyphenation: mer‧cy
Noun
mercy (countable and uncountable, plural mercies)
- (uncountable) Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another.
- Antonyms: mercilessness, ruthlessness, cruelty
- (uncountable) Forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.
- (uncountable) A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion.
- (countable) Instances of forbearance or forgiveness.
- (countable) A blessing; something to be thankful for.
- (uncountable) A children's game in which two players stand opposite with hands grasped and twist each other's arms until one gives in.
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
mercy (third-person singular simple present mercies, present participle mercying, simple past and past participle mercied)
- To feel mercy
- To show mercy; to pardon or treat leniently because of mercy
Interjection
mercy
- Expressing surprise or alarm.
Further reading
- “mercy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “mercy”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Middle English
Etymology
From Old French mercier.
Verb
mercy
- Alternative form of mercien
Middle French
Noun
mercy m or f (plural mercys)
- mercy (relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another)