mercy
/ˈmɝsi/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.25 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A children's game in which two players stand opposite with hands grasped and twist each other's arms until one gives in.
Uncountable
verb
To feel mercy
verb
To show mercy; to pardon or treat leniently because of mercy
Example Sentences
- "She took mercy on him and quit embarrassing him."
- "Have mercy on the poor and assist them if you can."
- "He despaired of God's mercy in the same fact, where this presumed of it; he by a decollation of all hope annihilated his mercy, this by an immoderancy thereof destroyed his justice"
- "Mercy is one of his many virtues."
- "1982, Bible (NKJV), Psalm 40:11a Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord"
- "It was a mercy that we were not inside when the roof collapsed"
Etymology
From Middle English mercy, merci, from Anglo-Norman merci (compare continental Old French merci, mercit), from Latin mercēs (“wages, fee, price”), from merx (“wares, merchandise”). Displaced native Old English mildheortnes (literally "mildheartedness"). Cognate with French merci, whence the doublet merci.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈmɝsi/
- British English: /ˈmɜːsi/