Added 9 October 2026
mercy
/ˈmɜːsi/ noun ▶ hear it
In Latin: misericordia Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0), via the Free Dictionary API. More about mercy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another.
She took mercy on him and quit embarrassing him.
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Forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.
Have mercy on the poor and assist them if you can.
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A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion.
Mercy is one of his many virtues.
verb
interjection
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Expressing surprise or alarm.
Mercy! Look at the state of you!
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)