mercy · intj — expressing surprise or alarm. It carries an Arena rating of 1859, earned across 48 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, mercy ranks #279 of 17,144 for Most Malleable Words, #371 of 17,134 for Most Elegant Words, #657 of 17,135 for Most Beautiful Words, #1,861 of 17,152 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
mercy is pronounced /ˈmɜːsi/.
Why “mercy” is a great word
The compassionate forbearance or leniency shown, especially by someone in a position of power to an offender or one who is helpless. From Middle English mercy, merci, from Anglo-Norman merci, from Latin mercēs ("wages, fee, price"), from merx ("wares, merchandise"), a term of commerce that displaced the native Old English mildheortnes. Unlike "grace," which bestows unearned favor, or "leniency," which moderates punishment by degree, mercy is the withheld blow, the breath drawn before retribution. It is the judge suspending the sentence, the soldier lowering his rifle, the creditor tearing the debt—each a moment where power chooses restraint, and in that quiet, something like the sacred enters the room.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From Middle English mercy, merci, from Anglo-Norman merci (compare continental Old French merci, mercit), from Latin mercēs (“wages, fee, price”), from merx (“wares, merchandise”). Displaced native Old English mildheortnes (literally "mildheartedness"). Cognate with French merci, whence the doublet merci.
intj
- Expressing surprise or alarm.e.g.“Mercy! Look at the state of you!”
noun
- Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another.e.g.“She took mercy on him and quit embarrassing him.”
- Forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.e.g.“Have mercy on the poor and assist them if you can.”
- A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion.e.g.“Mercy is one of his many virtues.”
- Instances of forbearance or forgiveness.e.g.“1982, Bible (NKJV), Psalm 40:11a
Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord”
- A blessing; something to be thankful for.e.g.“It was a mercy that we were not inside when the roof collapsed”
- A children's game in which two players stand opposite with hands grasped and twist each other's arms until one gives in.
verb
- To feel mercye.g.“I despised her; but I mercied her, too, and gave her sweet berries to eat, and led her to my lodge, and said to my best wife, ' Get up from my best skin, for the white squaw is a guest, and is weary.'” — 1866, Sarah Hammond Palfrey, Herman: Or, Young Knighthood, page 189:
- To show mercy; to pardon or treat leniently because of mercy
name
- A female given name from English.
- A surname from French.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
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