| 释义 |
▪ I. mercy, n.|ˈmɜːsɪ|
Forms: 2–5 merci, 4–6 mersy, mercye, 4–7 mercie, 5 merce, 6 mersye, Sc. marcie, 3– mercy.
[a. F. merci, earlier mercit = Pr. merce-s, Sp. merced, Pg. mercé, It. mercede:—L. mercēdem (nom. mercēs) reward, fee, in Christian Latin from the 6th c. often used in the sense of misericordia (= 1 below) and in that of thanks.]
The post-classical uses of mercēs are developed from the specific application of the word to the reward in heaven which is earned by kindness to those who have no claim, and from whom no requital can be expected. The Eng. uses explained below represent OF. senses that for the most part have not survived in Fr., where the word has been in great part superseded by miséricorde. The chief uses of merci in mod.Fr. are in the sense ‘thanks’ (cf. gramercy), and in phrases corresponding to those in 5 below.
1. a. Forbearance and compassion shown by one person to another who is in his power and who has no claim to receive kindness; kind and compassionate treatment in a case where severity is merited or expected. Phr. to have mercy on, upon, † of; also † to do mercy to, take mercy on, show mercy, etc. in mercy (to), in the exercise of mercy. † of mercy or for mercy, from consideration of mercy.
a1225Juliana 49 Milce haue ant merci, wummon, of mi wrecchedom. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1338 Of þe king þat is min vncle he is al at þin wille. Haue merci of him ich þe bidde. 1390Gower Conf. I. 353 Who that lawe hath upon honde, And spareth forto do justice For merci, doth noght his office. c1400Destr. Troy 8498 If ye no mercy haue on me,..Haue pite on youre pure sonnes. 1470–85Malory Arthur iv. viii. 128 She byddeth yow..doo batail to the vttermest without ony mercy. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xxii. 52 Thairfoir of mercy, and nocht of richt, I ask ȝow, schir,..Sum medecyne gife that ȝe micht. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. clxvi. 176, I humbly requyre you..yt ye woll take mercy of these sixe burgesses. a1533― Huon xlix. 165 He wyll slee you without mercy. 1769Junius Lett. v. (1820) 27 In mercy to him, let us drop the subject. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xxvii. III. 49 The emperor confessed, that, if the exercise of justice is the most important duty, the indulgence of mercy is the most exquisite pleasure, of a sovereign. 1792Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 17 Their enemies will fall upon them..and show them no mercy. 1796H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) I. 429 He massacres without mercy every thing that breathes. 1841Lane Arab. Nts. I. 110 Take my body, then, in mercy, to the place where you are laid.
b. spec. God's pitiful forbearance towards His creatures and forgiveness of their offences.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 43 Lauerd haue merci of us forðon þa pinen of helle we ham ne maȝen iðolien. a1225St. Marher. 22 Drihtin, do me merci of þis dede. a1250Owl & Night. 1092 Ihesus his soule do mercy. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 29 Trustynge to Goddis mersy. 1481Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 74 God receyueth alle them that desyre hys mercy. 1548–9(Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Morn. Prayer, Lorde haue mercie upon us. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iv. iii. 34 Then God take mercy on braue Talbots soule. 1607Hieron Wks. I. 121 What can it be but mercie, that we shall bee admitted to an inheritance immortall and vndefiled? 1641Hinde J. Bruen xxxiv. 107 Betwixt the Bridge and the Brook, the Knife and the Throat, the mercy of God may appeare. 1667Milton P.L. iii. 401 Father of Mercie and Grace.
†c. to have mercy (cf. 1): to receive pardon (of an offence). Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 9594, I sal noght fine merci to cri Betuixand he haue þi merci. c1340Hampole Prose Tr. 43 Aske mercy and hafe it. 1426Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 4098 But thow graunte, off thy pyte, That I may al outterly Off my Gyltes ha mercy. 1513Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 2752 Who-so wyll haue mercy Must be mercyable..; Who is without mercy of mercy shall mys.
2. a. Disposition to forgive or show compassion; compassionateness, mercifulness. Phr. of (or † for) one's mercy.
a1225Juliana 48 Nis na merci wið þe, for þi ne ahestu nan habben. a1225Ancr. R. 30 Þet God þurh his milce & for his merci hiȝe ham ut of pine. a1325Prose Psalter l. 1 Ha mercy on me, God, efter þy mychel mercy. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lxii. 21 The mersy of that sweit meik Rois, Suld soft ȝow, Thirsill, I suppois. 1523in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. I. 222 God of his mercie sende his grace of suche facion that it maye bee all for the beste. 1531Elyot Gov. ii. vii, In whome mercye lacketh..in hym all other vertues be drowned. 1588Parke tr. Mendoza's Hist. China 410 God for his infinite mercy conuert them. 1599Shakes. Hen. V, ii. ii. 179 The taste whereof, God of his mercy giue You patience to indure. 1872Morley Voltaire (1886) 2 The infinite mercy and loving-kindness of a supreme creator.
b. Personified.
a1300Cursor M. 9561 Quen merci sagh him suagat be Of him sco can haf pite. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. vi. 123 Merci is a Mayden þer..Heo is sib to alle synful men. c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 12 A lady Mercy satt on his righte side. 1621Hakewill David's Vow 28 These bee..the severall notes..of Mercie's Song. 1814Byron Lara ii. x, None sued, for Mercy knew her cry was vain.
†3. to cry (one) mercy: to beg for pardon or forgiveness. Hence in weakened sense = ‘to beg (one's) pardon’; often colloq. with ellipsis of ‘I’.
The personal object is expressed by simple dative, or (occas.) to, on, upon. In ME. also to ask, bid, beseech, crave, seek mercy: see numerous examples in Mätzner.
a1225,a1300[see cry v. 1 b, c]. c1315Shoreham i. 1181–2 To oure lorde Mercy he cryþ, and biddeþ hym Mercy and misericorde. 1393,a1533[see cry v. 1 b, c]. 1578Whetstone 2nd Pt. Promos & Cass. iii. ii. I iij b, O I ken you nowe syr, chy crie you mercie. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. v. iv. 94 Oh, cry you mercy, sir, I haue mistooke. 1594Lyly Moth. Bomb. iv. ii. 28, I crie you mercy, I tooke you for a ioynd stoole. 1672[see cry v. 1 b]. 1681Dryden Span. Friar iv. i, I cry thee mercy with all my Heart, for suspecting a Fryar of the least good-nature. 1692― Cleomenes Epil. 24, I give my judgment, craving all your mercies, To those that leave good plays, for damned dull farces. 1795[see cry v. 1 c].
4. In elliptical and interjectional uses. mercy = ‘may God have mercy!’; hence as a mere expression of surprise, fear, or the like. Also mercy on us! † for mercy! for mercy's sake! lord-a-mercy! (and in corrupt forms of the two last: cf. lord n. 6 b).
a1240Lofsong in Cott. Hom. 211 Louerd, þi merci. a1300Cursor M. 841 Merci, lauerd! strang wickedhed Broght adam to suilk a ded. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. i. 11 Ich was a-ferd of hire Face..And seide ‘Merci, Ma dame, What is þis to mene?’ 1595Shakes. John iv. i. 12 'Mercie on me. 1601― All's Well i. iii. 155 God's mercie, maiden. 1610― Temp. i. ii. 436 Alacke, for mercy. 1611― Wint. T. iii. iii. 70 Mercy on's, a Barne? Ibid. 105 Name of mercy, when was this, boy? 1634Milton Comus 695 Mercy guard me! 1671― Samson 1509 Mercy of Heav'n what hideous noise was that! 1800E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. I. 90 A black seal! oh, mercy! it certainly is some bad news about Henry. 1840Marryat Poor Jack xxiii, Mercy on us! what was that? 1849James Woodman iii, But, mercy have us, What is here? 1855W. Brooke Eastford vi. 60 Massy sakes alive John! where have you been all the morning..? What! a lady drownded!..Lord-a-massy! 1858Thackeray Virgin. I. xxxii. 250 ‘And whom a mercy's name have we here?’ breaks in Mrs. Lambert. 1860E. Eden Semi-attached Couple II. 127 Are you hurt? tell me, Helen, for mercy's sake. 1878Mrs. Stowe Poganuc P. iii. 23 Lordy massy, deacon, says I, don't you worry.
5. a. The clemency or forbearance of a conqueror or absolute lord, which it is in his power to extend or withhold as he thinks fit. Chiefly in phrases, as † to come to (one's) mercy, to submit to his authority; also, to come (to God) for forgiveness; also † to do or put oneself in or to (another's) mercy. † to take to (or into) mercy: to extend pardon to (one who yields at discretion); to give quarter to, receive the submission of. † (to yield) to or upon mercy, (to surrender) at discretion.
In early use to take to mercy implied the commutation of the death sentence for a fine: cf. sense 8.
1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 11788, 11790 Þus seyþ þe clerk, seynt Austyn, Þe prestes mercy þou do þe ynne; Þe prest ys crystys vycarye; Do þe alle yn hys mercy. c1330― Chron. (1810) 168 Þe mene folk..Com to his mercy, doand him seruise. a1400–50Alexander 816 Lordis & othire Come to þat conquerour & on knese fallis, And in [v.r. on] his mercy & meth mekely þaim put. 1420in E. E. Wills (1882) 47, I bequethe my soule into the mercy off mythfull Ihesu. 1480Caxton Chron. Eng. lxiv, Otta a lytel while ageynst hym stode but afterward he put hym to his mercy. 1481― Reynard (Arb.) 74 Thaugh one falle ofte and at laste aryseth vp and cometh to mercy, he is not therof dampned. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccccxvii. 730 The kynge was counsayled to take them to mercy, so that..they shulde gyue to the kyng lx. thousande frankes. 1550J. Coke Eng. & Fr. Heralds §63 (1877) 77 Kyng Edwarde the .iii. and his sone prynce Edwarde..favoryng the nacion of Brytayne..toke hym to theyr mercy. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 271/1 Vpon their submission, the king tooke them to mercie, vpon their fine, which was seized at twentie thousand marks. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. xv. 130 [Pompey] hauing..taken them [the pirates] into mercie, sent them into certaine townes..farre from the Sea. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, i. iv. 30 Yeeld to our mercy, proud Plantagenet. 1600Holland Livy ix. xxiv. 331 Those they tooke to mercie upon their submission. 1617Moryson Itin. i. 269 The Pyrates..did cast into the Sea many Marriners yeelding to mercy. a1671Ld. Fairfax Mem. (1699) 122 Which [sc. surrender] after 4 months close siege they were compelled to, and that upon mercy;..delivering upon mercy, is to be understood that some are to suffer, the rest to go free. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) IV. 98 Since it is so,..I think I must take you to mercy. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 643 Mercy was offered to some prisoners on condition that they would bear evidence against Prideaux.
†b. at mercy: (that has surrendered) at discretion; absolutely in the power of a victor or superior, at his disposal; liable to punishment or hurt at the hands of another; on sufferance, liable to interference. Also, (to hold) in mercy. Obs.
1605Shakes. Lear i. iv. 350 That..He may..hold our liues in mercy. 1607― Cor. i. x. 7 What good Condition can a Treatie finde I' th' part that is at mercy? a1671Ld. Fairfax Mem. (1699) 121 Lord Capel, Sir George Lucas, and Sir George Lisle, who were prisoners at mercy upon the rendring of Colchester. 1690Locke Govt. ii. xvi. §183 My Life, 'tis true, as forfeit, is at Mercy, but not my Wife's and Children's. a1715Burnet Own Time (1724) I. 347 A connivance, such as that the Jews lived under, by which they were still at mercy. 1727Swift State Irel. Wks. 1755 V. ii. 166 The linen of the North, a trade casual, corrupted, and at mercy. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 265 The inhabitants of a town exert all their efforts in defending the ramparts,..because when those are taken the town lies at mercy.
c. at the mercy of (a person): wholly in his power, at his discretion or disposal; liable to any treatment he may choose to employ; liable to danger or harm from him. Similarly † in the mercy of; (to leave or trust) to the mercy of. Also transf. and fig. (with things as subj. or obj.).
c1350Will. Palerne 4411 To þis bestes mercy i bowe me at alle, to worche with me is wille as him-self likes. 1481Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 106 Thy lyf is now in my mercy. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 856 Floutes, Which you on all estates will execute, That lie within the mercie of your wit. 1593― Lucr. 364 Shee..Lies at the mercie of his mortall sting. 1593― 2 Hen. VI, i. iii. 137 Thy Crueltie..hath exceeded Law, And left thee to the mercy of the Law. 1665Boyle Occas. Refl. ii. xiii. 141 The Syrians..found themselves at the mercy of their enemies. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 10 We lay wholly at the mercy of the two unruly Elements, Fire and Water. 1715De Foe Fam. Instruct. i. iv. (1841) I. 84 Your character is at every body's mercy. 1819Byron Juan ii. xlii, A wreck complete she roll'd, At mercy of the waves. 1888Bryce Amer. Commw. II. li. 292 Leaving the civil service at the mercy of a partisan chief. 1893Earl Dunmore Pamirs II. 50 Too precious to trust to the tender mercies of a baggage pony. 1902Field 25 Jan. 134/1 Shortly afterwards Smith had the goal at his mercy, but kicked over.
6. In particularized sense: An act of mercy; esp. one vouchsafed by God to His creatures; an event or circumstance calling for special thankfulness; a gift of God, a blessing. one's mercies, the good things which one has received from God.
a1300E. E. Psalter lxxxviii. 1 (Egerton MS.) Mercis of lauerd ouer al In euer-mare singe I sal. 1535Coverdale Ps. xxiv. 6 Call to remembraunce, O Lorde, thy tender mercyes & thy louinge kyndnesses. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 489 Thou'rt condemn'd, But for those earthly faults, I quit them all, And pray thee take this mercie to prouide For better times to come. 1651[see crowning ppl. a. 2]. 1662W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. iii. 518 Thou must not onely praise God for some extraordinary mercy, which once in a year betides thee,..but also for ordinary, every-day mercies. a1716South Serm. (1727) VI. vii. 227 Deliverance out of Temptation is undoubtedly one of the greatest Mercies that God vouchsafes his People. 1824Scott Redgauntlet Let. i, I know your good father would term this sinning my mercies. 1829― Jrnl. 16 July, May Heaven continue this great mercy, which I have so much reason to be thankful for! 1851Longfellow Gold. Leg. vi, Death never takes one alone..Perhaps it is a mercy of God, Lest the dead there under the sod..should be lonely! 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xii, There was even room to doubt whether Tom appreciated his mercies. Mod. It is a mercy that you were able to come when you did.
7. works of mercy (also † deeds, † duties of mercy and simply † mercies): acts of compassion towards suffering fellow-creatures.
Mediæval theology enumerated seven spiritual and seven corporal works of mercy (opera misericordiæ: cf. Luke x. 37 Vulg. qui fecit misericordiam in illum). Sisters of Mercy, title of a R.C. sisterhood founded at Dublin in 1827 (Catholic Dict.); popularly often applied to the members of any nursing sisterhood. House of Mercy, a name for a penitentiary or house of refuge.
1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 5764 Werkes of mercy and of almus. c1340― in Prose Tr. Pref. 11 In fulfillynge..of the seven dedis of mercy bodili and gostly to a manys euen cristen. c1380Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb.) 1158 As þe sowle is better þan þe body So þese gostly mercyes be better þan þe bodyly mercyes. 1390Gower Conf. III. 198 Here goode name may noght deie For Pite, which thei wolde obeie, To do the dedes of mercy. c1412Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 919 God wille þat þe nedy be releeued; It is on of þe werkes of mercy. 1533Gau Richt Vay (1888) 15 Thay that dois notht the dedis of marcie to thair nichtburs. 1647Conf. Faith Assemb. Div. Westm. xxi. (1650) 46 In the duties of necessity, and mercy. 1647Larger Catechism (1650) 112 Making it our whole delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy) in the publick and private exercises of Gods worship. 1824Scott Redgauntlet ch. xiii. [Trumbull loq.], A work of necessity and mercy. 1868Nat. Gazetteer I. 595 Clewer,..There is..a penitentiary, called the House of Mercy, founded in 1849.
†8. = amercement. to do or put in the mercy, to amerce; to be in mercy (= med.L. in misericordia), to be liable to a fine. Obs. exc. arch. or Hist.
(See the note under sense 5.)
[1292Britton i. v. §9 [Soint] trestouz es autres en la merci pur la fole suffraunce. ]1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 11155 Hii clupede sir Ion giffard, þat siwte ssolde þer to, To come oþer he ssolde in þe merci be ido. 1303[see mercy v. 1]. c1350in Eng. Gilds (1870) 349 Ȝif hii be þennes, by-þowte ryȝtful enchesoun, euerych by hym-selue be in mercy of one besaunt. Ibid. 356 He is in þe kynges mercy vpon þe quantyte of þat mysdede. a1500in Arnolde Chron. (1811) 217 Non of y⊇ forsaid mercyes shalbe put but be othe of sad and honest men. 15..Rules Court York in Drake Eboracum (1736) I. vi. 191 If the defendant put him in the mercie, the sheriffs shall have amerciaments of the defendant. 1768Blackstone Comm. III. App. i. 5 That the same William and his pledges of prosecuting, to wit, John Doe and Richard Roe, be in mercy for his false complaint. 1890W. P. Baildon Sel. Civil Pleas I. 44 Let them have their seisin thereof, and James is in mercy for the unjust detention. 1895Pollock & Maitland Hist. Eng. Law II. ii. iv. 512 At first the declaration that a man is in the king's or the lord's mercy implies that the king or lord may, if he pleases, take all his goods. 1914G. F. Deiser Year Bks. of Richard II: 12 Richard II 161 The judgment was that the plaintiffs take nothing by their writ, but be in the mercy for their false plaint.
†9. Thanks. Obs. rare. (Cf. gramercy.)
1362Langl. P. Pl. A. i. 41 ‘A Madame, Merci!’ quaþ I, ‘me likeþ wel þi wordes’. 1377― B. xix. 72 Kynges..offred mirre & moche golde, with-outen mercy askynge, Or any kynnes catel. c1500Melusine 129 Right grete thankes & thousand mercys to the damoyselle tha so moche honour sheweth to me.
10. attrib. and Comb., as mercy-angel, † mercy-doing, mercy-gate, † mercy-shewer; mercy-greatening, mercy-guided, mercy-lacking, mercy-tempered, mercy-wanting, mercy-winged adjs.; also passing into adj. (orig. U.S.): administered or performed out of mercy or pity in order to terminate or relieve pain or distress (cf. mercy-stroke), as mercy flight, mercy killing (so mercy killer; mercy-kill v. nonce-wd.), mercy mission, mercy murder, etc. † mercy-stock, -stool, -table = Mercy-seat (fig.); † mercy-stroke, a coup de grâce.
1849Rock Ch. of Fathers II. 468 To watch, as it were by the grave, and like a *mercy-angel, cry aloud on all Christians.
1927Daily Express 24 Mar. 3/6 The ‘*mercy bullet’..contains a chemical which is released on striking the animal. The fluid in the blood will cause temporary unconsciousness.
1969Listener 23 Jan. 111/3, I had representatives in touch with both sides to get the *mercy corridor working, to try and get flights in by day as well as by night.
1382Wyclif Ps. l. 3 After the multitude of thi grete *mercy doingus [Vulg. miserationum].
1933Meccano Mag. Mar. 195/2 Never a month passes without a ‘*mercy flight’ being carried out. 1944Beaver Dec. 40/2 The aeroplane..is proving of the greatest value as a means of conveying medical assistance... Such ‘mercy flights’ are increasing annually. 1973Guardian 14 Feb. 4/4 Two American prisoners of war freed by the Communists were making mercy flights home tonight to be with their families.
a1600in Farr S. P. Eliz. (1845) II. 473 Lamenting sore his sinfull life Before thy *mercy-gate.
1675Brooks Gold. Key Wks. 1867 V. 559 It is a *mercy-greatening mercy.
1833Rock Hierurg. (1892) I. 322 That God..whose sway Is *mercy-guided.
1957Observer 8 Dec. 14/3 This [melodrama], with its brilliant young scientist strangling his wife and volunteering for deep freeze and being *mercy-killed by his boss.
1935Amer. Speech X. 120/2 On the trail of the..*mercy killer..the public follows day by day. 1951J. D. Salinger Catcher in Rye xxi. 194 He feels sorry for it [a child]..sticks this blanket over her face..and makes her suffocate...He was a mercy killer.
1935A. A. Brill in Vital Speeches 16 Dec. 165 (title) Is ‘*mercy killing’ justified? 1952J. Cary Castle Corner Pref. 6 Think of Oates' suicide in the Antarctic, or thousands of ‘mercy killings’, which are technically murder. 1974Times 6 Feb. 6/1 A Long Island doctor who was accused of a ‘mercy killing’ of a dying cancer patient, was acquitted.
1595Shakes. John iv. i. 121 Fierce fire and Iron..Creatures of note for *mercy-lacking [Fo. mercy, lacking] vses.
1972Reader's Digest Mar. 76/1 (heading) Their *mercy missions reach new heights of skill and ingenuity. 1974Times 23 Apr. 4/6 An Army convoy of 20 four-ton lorries left Lyneham..yesterday on the start of a 3,000-mile mercy mission to Niger.
1930Commonweal (N.Y.) 16 July 293 *Mercy murders once more: euthanasia.
1943S. M. Emery Commander of Clouds 7 He turned the nose of his own kite toward the *mercy ship and thrust on more power.
a1565R. Turnar in Marbeck Bk. of Notes 332 In the power of God & *mercie shewer.
1550Becon Gov. Virtue Wks. 1564 I. 244 And he is a *mercy stocke for our sinnes [1 John ii. 2]. 1550Hutchinson Image of God Ep. Ded., Our sauiour & mercie stock saieth yt this knowledge is eternal lyfe.
a1536Tindale Pathw. Script. Wks. (1573) 379 Christ..is called in Scripture Gods *mercy stole. 1549Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. Rev. 17 The euerlasting word of God, which is and euer hath bene y⊇ Mercie-stoole of all the worlde.
1702C. Mather Magn. Chr. vii. 70 His Hatchet in his hand, ready to bestow a *Mercy-stroak of Death upon her.
1549Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. Rom. 7 Nowe hath God declared Christ to be vnto all people the very propiciatory, *mercie table, and sacrifice.
1822Wordsw. Eccles. Sonn. i. xxvi, With *mercy-tempered frown.
1944F. Clune Red Heart 8 On an average, Doctor John Grieve Woods travels over 17,000 miles annually by air on *mercy-trips.
1632Lithgow Trav. iii. 111 Transported here and there, Led with the *mercy-wanting winds.
1819Shelley Cenci iii. ii. 4 If so, the shaft Of *mercy-wingèd lightning would not fall On stones and trees.
▪ II. † ˈmercy, v. Obs.
[ad. OF. merci-er to thank, amerce, etc., f. merci mercy n.]
1. trans. To amerce.
1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 5490 Ȝyf þou haue be so coueytous To mercs [v.r. mercye] men ouer outraious, And pore men, specyaly, Þat ferde þe wers for þat mercy. c1330― Chron. (1810) 112 Who þat was gilty þorgh þe foresters sawe, Mercied was fulle hi. 1426Audelay Poems 39 Thai mercyn hem with mone and med prevely.
2. To thank. Const. of (= for).
1362Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 21 Mildeliche þenne Meede Merciede hem alle Of heore grete goodnesse. 1483Caxton G. de la Tour cxlii, Al the people..thanked & mercyed God..of the delyueraunce of Cathonet. c1500Melusine 71 Therof I mercy & thanke you. Ibid. 90 Raymondin..humbly mercyed the king of his good justice that he had doon to hym.
3. To clothe with mercy. nonce-use.
1645Rutherford Tryal & Tri. Faith. (1845) 104 If all that a saint hath be blessed, and every thing (to speak so), mercied and christianed,..his inheritance must be blessed.
Hence † mercying vbl. n., pitying, having mercy; used by Hampole to render L. miseratio.
a1340Hampole Psalter xxiv. 6 Vmthynke ye of þi mercyingis lord. Ibid. cii. 4 The whilke corouns þe in mercy and in merciyngis. |