To be at the mercy of

To be at the mercy of
Mercy Mer"cy (m[~e]r"s[y^]), n.; pl. {Mercies}. [OE. merci, F. merci, L. merces, mercedis, hire, pay, reward, LL., equiv. to misericordia pity, mercy. L. merces is probably akin to merere to deserve, acquire. See {Merit}, and cf. {Amerce}.] 1. Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency. [1913 Webster]

Examples of justice must be made for terror to some; examples of mercy for comfort to others. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

2. Compassionate treatment of the unfortunate and helpless; sometimes, favor, beneficence. --Luke x. 37. [1913 Webster]

3. Disposition to exercise compassion or favor; pity; compassion; willingness to spare or to help. [1913 Webster]

In whom mercy lacketh and is not founden. --Sir T. Elyot. [1913 Webster]

4. A blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or favor. [1913 Webster]

The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. --2 Cor. i. 3. [1913 Webster]

{Mercy seat} (Bib.), the golden cover or lid of the Ark of the Covenant. See {Ark}, 2.

{Sisters of Mercy} (R. C. Ch.),a religious order founded in Dublin in the year 1827. Communities of the same name have since been established in various American cities. The duties of those belonging to the order are, to attend lying-in hospitals, to superintend the education of girls, and protect decent women out of employment, to visit prisoners and the sick, and to attend persons condemned to death.

{To be at the mercy of}, to be wholly in the power of. [1913 Webster]

Syn: See {Grace}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • To lie at the mercy of — Lie Lie, v. i. [imp. {Lay} (l[=a]); p. p. {Lain} (l[=a]n), ({Lien} (l[imac] [e^]n), Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lying}.] [OE. lien, liggen, AS. licgan; akin to D. liggen, OHG. ligen, licken, G. liegen, Icel. liggja, Sw. ligga, Dan. ligge, Goth. ligan …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • at the mercy of — or[at one s mercy] {adj. phr.} In the power of; subject to the will and wishes of; without defense against. * /The champion had the other boxer at his mercy./ * /The picnic was at the mercy of the weather./ * /The small grocer was at the mercy of …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • at the mercy of — or[at one s mercy] {adj. phr.} In the power of; subject to the will and wishes of; without defense against. * /The champion had the other boxer at his mercy./ * /The picnic was at the mercy of the weather./ * /The small grocer was at the mercy of …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Mercy — Mer cy (m[ e]r s[y^]), n.; pl. {Mercies}. [OE. merci, F. merci, L. merces, mercedis, hire, pay, reward, LL., equiv. to misericordia pity, mercy. L. merces is probably akin to merere to deserve, acquire. See {Merit}, and cf. {Amerce}.] 1.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mercy seat — Mercy Mer cy (m[ e]r s[y^]), n.; pl. {Mercies}. [OE. merci, F. merci, L. merces, mercedis, hire, pay, reward, LL., equiv. to misericordia pity, mercy. L. merces is probably akin to merere to deserve, acquire. See {Merit}, and cf. {Amerce}.] 1.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • The Chronicles of Amber — is group of novels that comprise a fantasy series written by Roger Zelazny. The main series consists of two story arcs, each five novels in length. Additionally, there are a number of Amber short stories and other works. The Amber stories take… …   Wikipedia

  • at the mercy of — phrasal wholly in the power of ; with no way to protect oneself against …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Mercy rule — For the 2002 film, see The Slaughter Rule. A mercy rule, also well known by the slightly less polite term slaughter rule (or, less commonly, knockout rule and skunk rule), brings a sports event to an early end when one team has a very large and… …   Wikipedia

  • The Merchant of Venice — This article is about Shakespeare s play. For other uses, see The Merchant of Venice (disambiguation). The Merchant of Venice Title page of the first quarto of Merchant of Venice (1600) …   Wikipedia

  • mercy — noun (plural mercies) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French merci, from Medieval Latin merced , merces, from Latin, price paid, wages, from merc , merx merchandise Date: 13th century 1. a. compassion or forbearance shown especially to an… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”