mercy: Meaning and Definition of

mer•cy

Pronunciation: (mûr'sē), [key]
— pl. -cies
  1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.
  2. the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.
  3. the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, esp. to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.
  4. an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.
  5. something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.
  6. entirely in the power of; subject to: They were at the mercy of their captors.

Mer•cy

Pronunciation: (mûr'sē), [key]
— n.
  1. a female given name.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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