Definitions for mercy
ˈmɜr simer·cy

Princeton's WordNet(4.00 / 8 votes)Rate this definition:

1. clemency, mercifulness, mercy(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"

2. mercifulness, mercy(noun)

   a disposition to be kind and forgiving

   "in those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband"

3. mercifulness, mercy(noun)

   the feeling that motivates compassion

4. mercy(noun)

   something for which to be thankful

   "it was a mercy we got out alive"

5. mercy(noun)

   alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed

   "distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. mercy(Noun)

   relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another

   She took mercy on him and quit embarrassing him.

   Etymology: From merci, from merci (compare merci, mercit), from mercedem, accusative of merces, from merx. Displaced native Middle English are, ore "mercy" (from Old English ar "mercy, grace"), Middle English mildse "mercy, clemency" (from Old English milds, milts "mercy, kindness").

2. mercy(Noun)

   forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.

   Have mercy on the poor and assist them if you can.

   Etymology: From merci, from merci (compare merci, mercit), from mercedem, accusative of merces, from merx. Displaced native Middle English are, ore "mercy" (from Old English ar "mercy, grace"), Middle English mildse "mercy, clemency" (from Old English milds, milts "mercy, kindness").

3. mercy(Noun)

   A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion

   Mercy is one of his many virtues.

   Etymology: From merci, from merci (compare merci, mercit), from mercedem, accusative of merces, from merx. Displaced native Middle English are, ore "mercy" (from Old English ar "mercy, grace"), Middle English mildse "mercy, clemency" (from Old English milds, milts "mercy, kindness").

4. mercy(Noun)

   Instances of forbearance or forgiveness.

   Psalms 40:11 Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord

   Etymology: From merci, from merci (compare merci, mercit), from mercedem, accusative of merces, from merx. Displaced native Middle English are, ore "mercy" (from Old English ar "mercy, grace"), Middle English mildse "mercy, clemency" (from Old English milds, milts "mercy, kindness").

5. mercy(Noun)

   A blessing, something to be thankful for.

   It was a mercy that we were not inside when the roof collapsed

   Etymology: From merci, from merci (compare merci, mercit), from mercedem, accusative of merces, from merx. Displaced native Middle English are, ore "mercy" (from Old English ar "mercy, grace"), Middle English mildse "mercy, clemency" (from Old English milds, milts "mercy, kindness").

6. Mercy(ProperNoun)

   A female given name from English, one of the less common Puritan virtue names.

   Mr Pecksniff was a moral man — a grave man, a man of noble sentiments and speech — and he had had her christened Mercy. Mercy! oh, what a charming name for such a pure–souled Being as the youngest Miss Pecksniff! Her sister’s name was Charity. There was a good thing! Mercy and Charity!

Webster Dictionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Mercy(noun)

   forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency

2. Mercy(noun)

   compassionate treatment of the unfortunate and helpless; sometimes, favor, beneficence

3. Mercy(noun)

   disposition to exercise compassion or favor; pity; compassion; willingness to spare or to help

4. Mercy(noun)

   a blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or favor

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Mercy

   Mercy is a broad term that refers to benevolence, forgiveness and kindness in a variety of ethical, religious, social and legal contexts. The concept of a "Merciful God" appears in various religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Performing acts of mercy as a component of religious beliefs is also emphasized through actions such as the giving of alms, and care for the sick and Works of Mercy. In the social and legal context, mercy may refer both to compassionate behavior on the part of those in power, or on the part of a humanitarian third party, e.g., a mission of mercy aiming to treat war victims.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Mercy

   mėr′si, n. tenderness and forbearance shown in sparing an offender in one's power: a forgiving disposition: clemency: an act of mercy: an undeserved blessing: compassion or benevolence.—adjs. Mer′ciable (Spens.), merciful; Mer′ciful, full of, or exercising, mercy.—adv. Mer′cifully.—n. Mer′cifulness.—v.t. Mer′cify (Spens.), to deal mercifully with, to pity.—adj. Mer′ciless, without mercy: unfeeling: cruel.—adv. Mer′cilessly.—ns. Mer′cilessness, want of mercy; Mer′cy-seat, the seat or place of mercy; the covering of the Jewish Ark of the Covenant: the throne of God.—At the mercy of (another), wholly in the power of; For mercy! or For mercy's sake! an exclamatory appeal to pity; Great mercy=Gramercy; Sisters of mercy, members of female religious communities who tend the sick, &c. [Fr. merci, grace—L. merces, mercedis, pay, in later L. also 'favour.']

The Roycroft Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. mercy

   1. The charity of tyrants. 2. The forgiveness of one scoundrel by another. 3. The culmination of the Will-to-Power and its final apotheosis. 4. A quality which, like soup, the more it is strained the less soup and the more water you have. 5. In war a universal mode of subjugating a people.

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. mercy

   Song lyrics by mercy -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by mercy on the Lyrics.com website.

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'mercy' in Nouns Frequency: #2756

How to pronounce mercy?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say mercy in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of mercy in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of mercy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of mercy in a Sentence

1. Johann von Goethe:

   Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.

2. Ahmed Moosa:

   If the Bible is inspired, then it should be a book that no man - no number of men - could produce. It should contain the perfection of philosophy. It should perfectly accord with every fact in nature. There should be no mistakes in astronomy, geology, or as to any subject or science. Its morality should be the highest, the purest. Its laws and regulations for the control of conduct should be just, wise, perfect, and perfectly adapted to the accomplishment of the ends desired. It should contain nothing calculated to make man cruel, revengeful, vindictive or infamous. It should be filled with intelligence, justice, purity, honesty, mercy, and the spirit of liberty. It should be opposed to strife and war, to slavery and lust, to ignorance, credulity, and superstition. It should develop the brain and civilise the heart. It should satisfy the heart and brain of the best and wisest. It should be true”. “Does the Bible satisfy this standard?” Robert G. Ingersoll, renowned Bible Scholar, in his book, “Lectures and Essays”.

3. Donald Wuerl:

   Yes, my brothers and sisters, shame, i wish I could re-do everything over these 30 years as a bishop and each time get it always right. That's not the case. I do think together, asking for God's mercy, pleading for God's grace, recognizing that we can move into light, I simply ask you to keep me, keep all of those that have been abused, all of those who have suffered, all of the church in your prayers.

4. William Shakespeare:

   Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

5. Abraham Lincoln:

   I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

Images & Illustrations of mercy

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