Talk:mercy
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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)
- 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)
Agreed. delete Kiwima (talk) 00:15, 13 August 2017 (UTC)
- RFD failed. 0 keep, 2 delete. PseudoSkull (talk) 19:45, 13 August 2017 (UTC)
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)
- cited Kiwima (talk) 19:46, 1 April 2018 (UTC)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
RFV-resolved Kiwima (talk) 22:24, 9 April 2018 (UTC)
Easing of distress edit
The easing of distress or pain The supply convoy was on a mission of mercy. Microsoft® Encarta® 2009