mercy
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,374 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 13,386 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.006% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice also: clemency, mercifulness he threw himself on the mercy of the court
- a disposition to be kind and forgiving also: mercifulness in those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband
- the feeling that motivates compassion also: mercifulness
- something for which to be thankful it was a mercy we got out alive
- alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy
mercy in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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In a word, I am at your mercy.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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You know that I have no mercy for perjurers and false swearers.
An Egyptian Princess — Volume 07 · Georg Ebers · Chapter 1
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A sergeant-major cried for mercy, saying he had nine wounds, and was a brave fellow, and did not deserve this disgrace.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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By our holy vow, By our prayers and many tears, By the mercy that endears, Spare him! he our love hath shared!
The Complete Poetical Works of Henry · Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Chapter 1