misericord

mis·er·i·cord

[miz-er-i-kawrd, mi-zer-i-kawrd]
noun
1.
a room in a monastery set apart for those monks permitted relaxation of the monastic rule.
2.
Also, subsellium. a small projection on the underside of a hinged seat of a church stall, which, when the seat is lifted, gives support to a person standing in the stall.
3.
a medieval dagger, used for the mercy stroke to a wounded foe.
Also, mis·er·i·corde.


Origin:
1200–50; Middle English misericorde literally, pity, mercy, an act of clemency < Middle French < Latin misericordia pity, equivalent to misericord- (stem of misericors) compassionate (miseri-, stem of miserēre to pity + cord- stem of cor heart) + -ia -y3

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To misericord
00:10
Misericord is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
Collins
World English Dictionary
misericord or misericorde (mɪˈzɛrɪˌkɔːd) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a ledge projecting from the underside of the hinged seat of a choir stall in a church, on which the occupant can support himself while standing
2.  Christianity
 a.  a relaxation of certain monastic rules for infirm or aged monks or nuns
 b.  a monastery where such relaxations can be enjoyed
3.  a small medieval dagger used to give the death stroke to a wounded foe
 
[C14: from Old French, from Latin misericordia compassion, from miserēre to pity + cor heart]
 
misericorde or misericorde
 
n
 
[C14: from Old French, from Latin misericordia compassion, from miserēre to pity + cor heart]

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