mercy
mercy Lexical Profile
mercy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Compassion, forgiveness, or forbearance shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
"The defense attorney pleaded with the judge to show mercy during the sentencing hearing."
A fortunate circumstance, blessing, or timely event that brings relief from distress or suffering.
"After walking through the scorching desert heat for hours, the sudden afternoon breeze was a small mercy."
• interjection
Used as a mild exclamation to express surprise, relief, alarm, or dismay.
"Mercy, I nearly dropped the entire tray of crystal glasses!"
• Rhymes for mercy
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French 'merci' (pity, compassion, or thanks), which evolved from Latin 'merces' (reward, wages, or payment). In medieval Christian Latin, 'merces' came to refer specifically to the heavenly reward earned by those who show kindness to the helpless, eventually shifting to mean 'compassion' itself.