mercy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Kindness or forgiveness shown to someone you have the power to punish or harm.

   The king showed mercy and let the prisoners go free.

2. 2
   noun

   A willingness to forgive or be kind rather than cruel.

   Mercy is one of her many good qualities.

3. 3
   noun

   A lucky thing that you are grateful for.

   It was a mercy that no one was hurt in the crash.

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.

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