The story
Seemingly from mercify by analogy with crucify → crucifixion.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Today it means: The process of mercifying. (Now usually in reference to the treatment of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.) Full definition →
Seemingly from mercify by analogy with crucify → crucifixion.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.