See Also: Mercy(medicine)
mercy(dictionary)
mercy(dictionary)
Mercy Hospital(health)
Mercy HealthCare(health)
MISERICORDIA, mercy(law)
mercy (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
MERCY, crim(law)
mercy killing(dictionary)
MERCY, Practice(law)

mercy (oh)



[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: merci, from Latin merces 'price paid, payment for work', from merx 'things for sale']
[U] if someone shows mercy, they choose to forgive or to be kind to someone who they have the power to hurt or punish
::He showed no mercy to his enemies.
::God have mercy on his soul.
beg/cry/plead for mercy
::The boy was screaming and begging for mercy.
at the mercy of sb/sth
unable to do anything to protect yourself from someone or something
::After the boat's motor failed, they were at the mercy of the weather.
::She was completely at his mercy.
mercy flight/mission etc
a journey taken to bring help to people
::a mercy mission to help homeless refugees
leave sb to sb's (tender) mercies
to let someone be dealt with by another person, who may treat them very badly or strictly - used humorously
throw yourself on sb's mercy
to ask someone to help you or forgive you when you are in a very bad situation
it's a mercy (that)
spoken used to say that it is lucky that a worse situation was avoided
::It's a mercy the accident happened so near the hospital.
-see also be thankful/grateful for small mercies at small 1 (13)