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. Felicia Sanders:

   As we said in the Bible study, we enjoyed you, but may God have mercy on you.

2. Ehsan Sehgal:

   The heart upon which the sense of humanity and the passion has died, that heart is the emptiness of a conception of love, mercy, and fairness of the principles. Indeed, such people are the terrorists, whether in uniform or not, in power or not, who work as the army of evil. The world is under that force.

3. John Dryden:

   Reason to rule but mercy to forgive The first is the law, the last prerogative.

4. Gerald R. Ford:

   As I rejected amnesty, so I reject revenge. I ask all Americans who ever asked for goodness and mercy in their lives, who ever sought forgiveness for their trespasses, to join in rehabilitating all the casualties of the tragic conflict of the past. (On Americans who avoided conscription during the Vietnam War, to Veterans of Foreign Wars)

5. EMEASOBA GEORGE:

   Expectation is a strong belief that something will happen or be the case. Now, what has been or could be your expectation? Could it be fame or obscruity, greatness or commonness, riches or poverty, grace or disgrace, mess or mercy, success or failure? However, in case you don't know, the scripture says that your expectations shall not be cut off or denied, scripture reference (Proverbs 24:14, Proverbs 23:18). Although, your expectations may be delayed, but the delay will be just for a while. Yes! all your godly, earnest and positive expectations will definitely or surely materialize. It is a matter of time and provided you are patient enough with God. ~Emeasoba George

Images & Illustrations of mercy

Popularity rank by frequency of use