mercy

mercy · noun, verb, interjection¹

1. Latin · derived frommercēs“wages, fee, price”
2. Anglo-Norman · derived frommerci
3. Middle English · inherited frommercy
4. English todaymercy

From Middle English mercy, merci, from Anglo-Norman merci (compare continental Old French merci, mercit), from Latin mercēs (“wages, fee, price”), from merx (“wares, merchandise”). Displaced native Old English mildheortnes (literally "mildheartedness"). Cognate with French merci, whence the doublet merci.

Mercy · proper noun²

From mercy in the 17th century; one of the less common Puritan virtue names. In modern use sometimes used to anglicize Spanish Mercedes.

Mercy · proper noun³

1. French · borrowed fromMercy
2. French · borrowed fromMercy
3. English todayMercy

Borrowed from French Mercy.