Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French misericorde (1120 in Old French in sense ‘pity, compassion’, 1170 in sense ‘dagger’; French miséricorde ) and its etymon classical Latin misericordia pity, compassion, in post-classical Latin also dagger (1162; from 1299 in British sources), shelving projection on a seat in a choir stall (11th cent.; from c1148 in British sources), apartment in a monastery in which certain relaxations of the rule were permitted (13th cent.; from 1222 in British sources), special allowance of food (late 11th cent.; from c1255 in British sources), relaxation of monastic rule (c1266 in a British source) < misericord- , misericors (see misericord adj.) + -ia -ia suffix¹. Compare Spanish misericordia (1220–50), Italian misericordia (late 13th cent.), Portuguese misericórdia (14th cent.).

Etymology: < classical Latin misericord-, misericors < miser wretched (see miser adj.) + cord- , cor heart (see cordi- comb. form), perhaps after Hellenistic Greek εὔσπλαγχνος compassionate, lit. ‘good-hearted’ (Septuagint; already in ancient Greek (Hippocrates) in sense ‘with healthy bowels’). Compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French misericors, misericort (12th cent.).In several passages in the Vulgate, post-classical Latin misericors is used to translate Hellenistic Greek ἐλεήμων pitiful, merciful. In Old English Latin misericors is usually rendered by mildheort mild-heart adj.