Talk:mercy

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Latest comment: 4 years ago by Backinstadiums in topic Easing of distress
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RFD discussion: December 2016–August 2017

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Sense:

(phrasal) Subjugation, power; reliance upon the compassion, forbearance, or whim of another (at the mercy of)

This definition, unless anyone can show otherwise, seems to apply only to the phrase "at the mercy of", but I am not convinced that "mercy" in "at the mercy of" means "subjugation" or "power" at all. I think it has the usual meaning of forgiveness, compassion etc., as amply covered by other senses, and that "at the mercy of" means something like "dependent on the mercy of" or "subject to the mercy of". Mihia (talk) 21:43, 26 December 2016 (UTC)Reply

Any of definitions 1, 2, or 3 would fit with my understanding of at the mercy of, which I view as SoP, though several lemmings do not. See at the mercy of”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.. DCDuring TALK 02:36, 27 December 2016 (UTC)Reply

Agreed. delete Kiwima (talk) 00:15, 13 August 2017 (UTC)Reply

RFD failed. 0 keep, 2 delete. PseudoSkull (talk) 19:45, 13 August 2017 (UTC)Reply


RFV discussion: April 2018

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The following discussion has been moved from Wiktionary:Requests for verification (permalink).

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Rfv-sense: "to feel mercy" and "to pardon because of mercy"

Not really convinced. --Robbie SWE (talk) 18:47, 1 April 2018 (UTC)Reply

cited Kiwima (talk) 19:46, 1 April 2018 (UTC)Reply
Hmm, for sense 1, the 1385 quote is Middle English, not modern, and the 1852 quote is almost certainly a nonce usage of merci as a verb rather than a cite of mercy. For sense 2, the 1888, 1892, and 1997 quotes all seem to cite an adjective mercied rather than a verb mercy. —Mahāgaja (formerly Angr) · talk 21:34, 1 April 2018 (UTC)Reply
sense 1 was not challenged, and yet I find it the hardest of all to cite. I have added more cites to sense 2. Kiwima (talk) 22:14, 1 April 2018 (UTC)Reply
Thanks for that. I'm convinced by the cites for sense 2 now. As for sense 1, even though it wasn't challenged, I still think it's probably only Middle English (which would explain why you're having so much trouble citing it). —Mahāgaja (formerly Angr) · talk 06:47, 2 April 2018 (UTC)Reply

RFV-resolved Kiwima (talk) 22:24, 9 April 2018 (UTC)Reply

Easing of distress

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The easing of distress or pain
The supply convoy was on a mission of mercy.
Microsoft® Encarta® 2009

--Backinstadiums (talk) 17:07, 29 February 2020 (UTC)Reply