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mercy
mer·cy / ˈmərsē/ • n. (pl. -cies) compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm: the boy was screaming and begging for mercy | the mercies of God. ∎ an event to be grateful for, esp. because its occurrence prevents something unpleasant or provides relief from suffering: his death was in a way a mercy. ∎ [as adj.] (esp. of a journey or mission) performed out of a desire to relieve suffering; motivated by compassion: mercy missions to refugees caught up in the fighting. • interj. archaic used in expressions of surprise or fear: “Mercy me!” uttered Mrs. Garfield. PHRASES: at the mercy of completely in the power or under the control of: consumers were at the mercy of every rogue in the marketplace. be thankful (or grateful) for small mercies be relieved that an unpleasant situation is alleviated by minor advantages. have mercy on (or upon) show compassion or forgiveness to: may the Lord have mercy on her soul. leave someone/something to the mercy of expose someone or something to a situation of probable danger or harm: the forest is left to the mercy of the loggers. throw oneself on someone's mercy intentionally place oneself in someone's hands in the expectation that they will behave mercifully toward one. ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French merci ‘pity’ or ‘thanks,’ from Latin merces, merced- ‘reward,’ in Christian Latin ‘pity, favor, heavenly reward.’ |
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"mercy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "mercy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-mercy.html "mercy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-mercy.html |
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Mercy
Mercy ♀ From the vocabulary word denoting the quality of magnanimity, and in particular God's forgiveness of sinners, a quality much prized in Christian tradition. The word is derived from Latin merces, which originally meant ‘wage’ or ‘reward’ (see Mercedes). The name was in regular use from the mid 15th century onwards and was favoured by the Puritans; Mercy is the companion of Christiana in the second part of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress (1684). Subsequently, it fell out of use as a given name. In modern use, this is often an Anglicized form of Mercedes.
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Mercy." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Mercy." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Mercy.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Mercy." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Mercy.html |
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mercy
mercy be thankful for small mercies be relieved that an unpleasant situation is alleviated by minor advantages.
mercy seat the golden covering placed upon the Ark of the Covenant, regarded as the resting-place of God; the throne of God in Heaven. The term is found in Exodus 25:17. throw oneself on someone's mercy intentionally place oneself in someone's power in the expectation that they will behave mercifully towards one. See also seven corporal works of mercy, seven spiritual works of mercy. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "mercy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "mercy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-mercy.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "mercy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-mercy.html |
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mercy
mercy In Hebrew the noun hesed (‘mercy’) is also translated ‘loving-kindness’, and implies the loyalty of God to the covenant. In the NT God's mercy is revealed in the salvation offered through Jesus (Luke 1: 58; Rom. 11: 30–2) and a similar outgoing compassion towards human suffering is shown by Jesus (Luke 17: 13).
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "mercy." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "mercy." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-mercy.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "mercy." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-mercy.html |
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mercy
mercy XII. — (O)F. merci, now chiefly in sense ‘thanks’ and in phr. á la merci de in the absolute power of:- L. mercēs, mercēd- pay, reward, wages, revenue, in ChrL. used for misericordia pity and gratiæ thanks.
Hence merciful XIII, merciless XIV. |
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T. F. HOAD. "mercy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "mercy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-mercy.html T. F. HOAD. "mercy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-mercy.html |
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mercy
mercy •arsy-versy, Circe, mercy, Percy, pursy
•colonelcy • verdancy • conversancy
•conservancy, fervency
•curtsy • controversy
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"mercy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "mercy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-mercy.html "mercy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-mercy.html |
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