MERCY • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Mercy

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/mˈərsi/ Listen

noun

Mercy n. (pl. mercies)

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."

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."

4.

A blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or favor. "The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort."

Mercy seat (Bib.), the golden cover or lid of the Ark of the Covenant. See Ark, 2.

Sisters of Mercy (R. C. Ch.),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.

Synonyms: See Grace.

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Etymology of 'Mercy'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Mercy" Quotes from Famous Books

... came back to his world he was lying upon the ground, with his head against a log, and about him was a circle of brown faces, cold, hard, expressionless and apparently devoid of human feeling; pity and mercy seemed to be unknown qualities there. But the boy met them with a gaze as steady as their own, and then he glanced quickly around the circle. There was no other prisoner and he saw no ghastly trophy; then his comrades had escaped, and, deep satisfaction in his heart, he let ...

— The Young Trailers - A Story of Early Kentucky • Joseph A. Altsheler

... who catches a Sioux!" I shouted. "Come on, Indians! Who follows? Is the Indian less brave than the pale face?" and we all dashed forward, spurring our hard-ridden horses without mercy. Each Indian gave his horse the bit. Beating them over the head, they craned flat over the horses' necks to lessen resistance to the air. A boisterous wind was fanning the burning grass to a great tide of fire that rolled forward in forked ...

— Lords of the North • A. C. Laut

... and he presented his plea with all the eloquence of which he was master. But it fell on ears that understood not its purport. I know of no more pathetic incident in all the long chapter of human woe and despair than this pitiful prayer of a perishing people for mercy and forgiveness, spoken in a tongue that carried no meaning to those who heard. Let us hope that if the petition had been understood it would have ...

— Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 7 • Charles H. Sylvester

... disenchanted, she would be intelligent enough to understand that his character safeguarded the enterprise of their lives as much or more than his policy. The extraordinary development of the mine had put a great power into his hands. To feel that prosperity always at the mercy of unintelligent greed had grown irksome to him. To Mrs. Gould it was humiliating. At any rate, it was dangerous. In the confidential communications passing between Charles Gould, the King of Sulaco, and the head of the silver and steel ...

— Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard • Joseph Conrad

... opinion of ALMORAN, are below his notice; but HAMET considers his own interest as connected with yours. When ALMORAN, therefore, shall be unchecked by the influence of HAMET; he will leave you to the mercy of some delegated tyrant, whose whole power will be exerted to oppress you, ...

— Almoran and Hamet • John Hawkesworth

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