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Definition of Mercy
1. Noun. Leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice. "He threw himself on the mercy of the court"
Generic synonyms: Lenience, Leniency
Specialized synonyms: Commutation, Re-sentencing, Amnesty, Free Pardon, Pardon, Quarter, Reprieve, Respite
Derivative terms: Clement, Merciful
2. Noun. A disposition to be kind and forgiving. "In those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband"
Generic synonyms: Humaneness
Specialized synonyms: Compassion, Pity, Forgivingness, Kindness, Lenience, Leniency, Lenity, Mildness
Derivative terms: Merciful
Antonyms: Mercilessness
3. Noun. The feeling that motivates compassion.
Generic synonyms: Compassion, Compassionateness
Specialized synonyms: Forgiveness
Derivative terms: Merciful
4. Noun. Something for which to be thankful. "It was a mercy we got out alive"
5. Noun. Alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed. "Distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy"
Definition of Mercy
1. n. Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency.
Definition of Mercy
1. Proper noun. (English female given name), one of the less common Puritan virtue names. ¹
2. Noun. relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another ¹
3. Noun. forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate. ¹
4. Noun. A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion ¹
5. Noun. Instances of forbearance or forgiveness. ¹
6. Noun. A blessing, something to be thankful for. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Mercy
1. compassion shown to an offender or enemy [n -CIES]
Medical Definition of Mercy
1. Origin: OE. Merci, F. Merci, L. Merces, mercedis, hire, pay, reward, LL, equiv. To misericordia pity, mercy. L. Merces is prob akin to merere to deserve, acquire. See Merit, and cf. Amerce. 1. Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency. "Examples of justice must be made for terror to some; examples of mercy for comfort to others." (Bacon) 2. Compassionate treatment of the unfortunate and helpless; sometimes, favor, beneficence. 3. Disposition to exercise compassion or favor; pity; compassion; willingness to spare or to help. "In whom mercy lacketh and is not founden." (Sir T. Elyot) 4. A blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or favor. "The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." (2 Cor. I. 3) Mercy seat,a religious order founded in Dublin in the year 1827. Communities of the same name have since been established in various American cities. The duties of those belonging to the order are, to attend lying-in hospitals, to superintend the education of girls, and protect decent women out of employment, to visit prisoners and the sick, and to attend persons condemned to death. To be at the mercy of, to be wholly in the power of. Synonym: See Grace. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Mercy
Literary usage of Mercy
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, Izaak Walton (1909)
"mercy inquires of the maids concerning Mr Brisk Talk betwixt mercy and Mr Brisk
He forsakes her, and why mercy in the practice of mercy relected; ..."
2. The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other by Church of England (1831)
"2 O give thanks unto the God of all gods : for his mercy endureth for ever. through
... 3 O thank the Lord of all lords : for his mercy endureth for ever. ..."
3. The Works of George Bull: D. D., Lord Bishop of St. David's by George Bull, Edward Burton, Robert Nelson (1827)
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy. IN the preceding verses of
the chapter, God sharply reproves and severely threatens Israel for their ..."
4. Representative American Plays by Arthur Hobson Quinn (1917)
"mercy and DOLLY are discovered at the table, which is between two chairs. ...
mercy. Now to put awa' the linen. (She does so in drawers at right, ..."
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