mercy
UK[ˈmɜːsi]US[ˈmɜːrsi]
n
kindness or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
n
an event or piece of good fortune that is welcome because it prevents something unpleasant or provides relief from suffering.
Etymology
the word 'mercy' entered english in the 12th century from old french 'merci', meaning 'pity, thanks, reward'. this old french term itself derives from latin 'merces', which originally meant 'wages, reward, fee', and later evolved to signify 'favor, pity'. the latin root is connected to 'merx' (merchandise), pointing to an early conceptual link between payment and the granting of a favor. the semantic journey from 'payment' to 'compassion' reflects a shift from a transactional concept to a moral and spiritual virtue, central to christian theology, which profoundly shaped the word's meaning in english.
Analysis
the word 'mercy' is a simplex loanword from french. it does not contain separable morphemes in its modern english spelling.
Examples
the judge showed mercy and gave him a lighter sentence.
it was a mercy that the storm arrived after we had reached home.
they begged for mercy but received none from their captors.