† mercifyv.
Obsolete. rare.
transitive. To pity, have compassion for; to extend mercy to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > compassion > feel pity for [verb (transitive)] > have mercy upon
sparec825
milceeOE
arec1000
i-milcec1000
to have (also take) mercy on (also upon, of)a1225
to show (also do) mercy (to)a1225
methec1225
savea1382
miltha1400
tender1442
to take to (also into) mercy1523
mercify1596
bemercy1660
to give (or cut) (a person) some slack1968
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. vii. sig. Ee8 Many did deride, Whilest she did weepe, of no man mercifide . View more context for this quotation
1734 W. Crawford Short Man. against Infidelity xxiv. 176 We must not only be mercified but justified.
1812 J. Galt Clytemnestra ii. v, in Tragedies 245 In his searching eyes, Me-thought a sad and wat'ry pity hung, That kindly mercified their angry fires.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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