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The mercy seat; -- so called because a symbol of the propitiated Jehovah. Bp. Pearson.

Lying at mercy, as a supplicant. Dryden.

Treatment shown by an enemy; mercy; especially, the act of sparing the life a conquered enemy; a refraining from pushing one's advantage to extremes. He magnified his own clemency, now they were at his mercy, to offer them quarter for their lives. Clarendon. Cocks and lambs . . . at the mercy of cats and wolves . . . m…

The act of receding or withdrawing, as from a place, a claim, or a demand. South. Mercy may rejoice upon the recessions of justice. Jer. Taylor.

Crying for mercy, as a combatant in the trial by battle; yielding; cowardly; mean-spirited; craven. "This recreant knight." Spenser.

o be delighted. "O, rejoice beyond a common joy." Shak. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. Ps. xxxi. 7.

recompense; to repay; to compensate. After the deed that is done, one doom shall reward, Mercy or no mercy as truth will accord. Piers Plowman. Thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 1 Sam. xxiv. 17. I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. Deut. xxxii. 41. Go…

pect; -- used chiefly in such phrases as, for the sake, for his sake, for man's sake, for mercy's sake, and the like; as, to commit crime for the sake of gain; to go abroad for the sake of one's health. Moved with wrath and shame and ladies; sake. Spenser. I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake. Gen.…

nt as the means of holiness; to render productive of holiness or piety. A means which his mercy hath sanctified so to me as to make me repent of that unjust act. Eikon Basilike.

ne. [Written also scathe.] But she was somedeal deaf, and that was skathe. Chaucer. Great mercy, sure, for to enlarge a thrall, Whose freedom shall thee turn to greatest scath. Spenser. Wherein Rome hath done you any scath, Let him make treble satisfaction. Shak.

To qualify by admixture; to moderate; to temper. "When mercy seasons justice." Shak.

the purpose; suitable to the season; opportune; timely; as, a seasonable supply of rain. Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction. Ecclus. xxxv. 20. -- Sea"son*a*ble*ness, n. -- Sea"son*a*bly, adv.

y of the Divine Presence, especially when resting or dwelling between the cherubim on the mercy seat, in the Tabernacle, or in the Temple of Solomon; -- a term used in the Targums and by the later Jews, and adopted by Christians. [Written also Shechinah.] Dr. W. Smith (Bib. Dict.)

To bestow; to confer; to afford; as, to show favor. Shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me. Ex. xx. 6. To show forth, to manifest; to publish; to proclaim. -- To show his paces, to exhibit the gait, speed, or the like; -- said especially of a horse. -- To show off, to exhibit ostentatiously. -- To show up…

ming a mousing for the other; -- called also match hook. -- Sister of charity, Sister of mercy. (R. C. Ch.) See under Charity, and Mercy.

To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to. Spare us, good Lord. Book of Common Prayer. Dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages. Milton. Man alone can whom he conquers spare. Waller.

talks and plays with Fatima, but his mirth Is forced and strained. Denham. The quality of mercy is not strained. Shak.

p., assistance that relieves and delivers from difficulty, want, or distress. "We beseech mercy and succor." Chaucer. My noble father . . . Flying for succor to his servant Bannister. Shak.

slow; not swift. And check the tardy flight of time. Sandys. Tardy to vengeance, and with mercy brave. Prior.

ssuage; to soothe; to calm. Puritan austerity was so tempered by Dutch indifference, that mercy itself could not have dictated a milder system. Bancroft. Woman! lovely woman! nature made thee To temper man: we had been brutes without you. Otway. But thy fire Shall be more tempered, and thy hope far higher. Byron. She […