Showing compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. It describes the quality of being lenient and kind when one could justly be harsh.
From Old French merci (mercy, thanks) derived from Latin merces (reward, wages). The concept evolved from 'reward' to 'grace' to 'compassion shown to those in one's power.' The suffix -ful means 'full of,' so merciful literally means 'full of mercy.'
Think of mercy as the opposite of what someone deserves - if they deserve punishment but you show kindness instead, that's merciful. Remember 'MERCY-FULL' - literally full of mercy. It's not just being nice; it's being kind when you have the power to be harsh. Think of a judge showing mercy to a criminal.
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