ˈmərsē, ˈmə̄s-, ˈməis-, -si noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English merci, mercy, from Old French mercit, merci, from Medieval Latin merced-, merces, from Latin, price paid for something, wages, reward, recompense, from merc-, merx ware, merchandise — more at market
1.
a. : compassion or forbearance shown to an offender or subject : clemency or kindness extended to someone instead of strictness or severity : leniency
the illusion of omniscience … brings endless inhumanity when it leads us to shut the gates of mercy — M.R.Cohen
especially : the mercy of God to man
showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments — Exod 20:6 (Authorized Version)
b. : a sentence of imprisonment rather than of death imposed in clemency on a person convicted of first-degree murder
2.
a. : a blessing regarded as an act of divine favor or compassion
seemed oblivious of all the many mercies of his daily life
b. : a fortunate event or circumstance
the more open ground was a mercy — Fred Majdalany
3. : relief of distress : compassion shown to victims of misfortune
seek ways of performing acts of kindness and mercy abroad — Vera M. Dean
Synonyms:
clemency , lenity , charity , grace : mercy , a word of much emotional force and hence one applicable to extreme situations, indicates a kindly refraining from inflicting punishment or pain, often a refraining brought about by genuinely felt compassion and sympathy, or a general disposition toward these latter characteristics
earthly power doth then show likest God's when mercy season justice — Shakespeare
the quality of brutality was not isolated in the Japanese, nor was the quality of mercy unknown to them — Agnes N. Keith
clemency , a less emotionally colored word, indicates a tendency to be mild and compassionate, to administer or direct moderate punishment or treatment rather than drastically severe
clemency … is the standing policy of constitutional governments, as severity is of despotism — Henry Hallam
Cicero had prophesied so positively that Caesar would throw off the mask of clemency … that he was disappointed to find him persevere in the same gentleness — J.A.Froude
lenity may suggest absence of severity, may connote a clemency uninterrupted and unvaried and verging onto softness and careless leniency
whether this indulgence comes from the wisdom and lenity of the government — Tobias Smollett
not to be expected that they would show much lenity to one … regarded as the chief of the Rye House Plot — T.B.Macaulay
charity indicates clemency of judgment, a disposition to judge mildly or tolerantly
marriage had begun where it so often ends happily, in charity of mind — Ellen Glasgow
In other, more common uses it suggests a benevolent good will arising from a feeling of love of others
with malice toward none, with charity for all — Abraham Lincoln
In older usage grace may combine the associations of clemency and charity
his eyes upraised to sue for grace — William Wordsworth
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- at the mercy of