I
n.
mercy
1) to give, show ~ (the mercenaries gave no ~)
2) to ask for; receive ~
one fourth
3) (in telling time) (a) ~ of ( AE ), to (the hour) (it was a ~ to five)
4) (a) ~ after ( AE ), past (the hour) (it is a ~ past five)
II
v. ( esp. mil .) ( D ; tr. ) ('to assign to a lodging place') to ~ on, upon (to ~ troops on the local population)