mercy English · revision 6659

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1175|origins=la merx}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɝsi/; /ˈmɜːsi/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English merci, [[bor|fro|merci|t=reward, gift; kindness, pity; thanks]], earlier mercit,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|merces|t=reward, wages, pay]] (genitive mercēdis), from [[m|la|merx|t=wares, merchandise]] (see [[market]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) In Christian Latin the word came to mean heavenly reward, and then pity and favour.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ God's forbearance towards his creatures and his forgiveness of their sins: about 1175 in the OED, the late 12th century in Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) probably before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'', in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Forbearance and compassion shown by one person to another in his power is from before 1225,^(OED 1989) as is the disposition to forgive or show compassion.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) An act of kindness is from about 1300,^(Etymonline) and the interjection, short for ''God have mercy'', from the mid-13th century.^(Etymonline) ''At one's mercy'', in someone's power, is from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) The ''mercy seat'' (1530) is Tyndale's loan-translation of Luther's Gnadenstuhl.^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that in French the word has largely given way to miséricorde, except as ''merci'', thanks.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Word Origins dates ''thankful for small mercies'' to Scott's ''The Heart of Midlothian''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1175 – God's mercy.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1225 – compassion to one in one's power.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-13th century – the interjection.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – an act of kindness.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – at one's mercy.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530 – mercy seat.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Compassion or forgiveness shown to someone whom one has the power to punish or harm; [[clemency]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A disposition to be kind and forgiving.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A fortunate thing; a [[blessing]]: ''it's a mercy no one was hurt''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relief from suffering: ''a mercy flight''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(archaic)'' An expression of surprise or fear.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[merciful]]

+ * [[merciless]]

+ * [[mercy killing]]

+ * [[mercy seat]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[market]]

+ * [[merchant]]

+ * [[mercenary]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD compares ''mercy'', compassionate forbearance, with [[leniency]], [[lenity]], [[clemency]] and [[charity]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}