misericors

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [mɪˈsɛ.rɪ.kɔrs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [miˈs̬ɛː.ri.kors]^[1]

Forms

misericors (genitive misericordis, comparative misericordior); third-declension one-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from miser “wretched” and cor “heart”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of the tender-hearted.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant tender-hearted, merciful, compassionate, as in Plautus, and of pleas meant to move pity, pitiful.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant merciful, kind, especially of God.^[4][5] Gildas wished rather to fall into the hands of the merciful God than of men.^[5] It was borrowed into Italian and Spanish misericorde, and Middle High German misencorde was a long knife worn beside the sword.^[1][3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the merciful.^[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Merciful, compassionate.^[2]
2. Pitiful.^[2]

Word family

• immisericors
• misericordia

Related words

• miser
• cor

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
5. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press