Mercies - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

mer·cy

Audio Help [mur-see] Pronunciation Key

–noun, plural -cies for 4, 5.

1.	compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.

2.	the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.

3.	the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, esp. to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.

4.	an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.

5.	something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.

—Idiom

6.	at the mercy of, entirely in the power of; subject to: They were at the mercy of their captors. Also, at one's mercy.

[Origin: 1125–75; ME merci < OF, earlier mercit < L mercéd- (s. of mercés) wages (LL, ML: heavenly reward), deriv. of merx goods

]

—Synonyms 1. forgiveness, indulgence, clemency, leniency, lenity, tenderness, mildness.

—Antonyms 1. cruelty.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Mercies

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

mer·cy Audio Help (mûr'sē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. mer·cies

Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency.
A disposition to be kind and forgiving: a heart full of mercy.
Something for which to be thankful; a blessing: It was a mercy that no one was hurt.
Alleviation of distress; relief: Taking in the refugees was an act of mercy.

[Middle English, from Old French merci, from Medieval Latin mercēs, from Latin, reward.]

Synonyms: These nouns mean humane and kind, sympathetic, or forgiving treatment of or disposition toward others. Mercy is compassionate forbearance: "We hand folks over to God's mercy, and show none ourselves" (George Eliot).
Leniency and lenity imply mildness, gentleness, and often a tendency to reduce punishment: "When you have gone too far to recede, do not sue [appeal] to me for leniency" (Charles Dickens). "His Majesty gave many marks of his great lenity, often . . . endeavoring to extenuate your crimes" (Jonathan Swift).
Clemency is mercy shown by someone with judicial authority: The judge believed in clemency for youthful offenders.
Charity is goodwill and benevolence in judging others: "But how shall we expect charity towards others, when we are uncharitable to ourselves?" (Thomas Browne).