mercifulness

n 1: the feeling that motivates compassion [syn: {mercy}]

2: a disposition to be kind and forgiving; "in those days a

wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband"

[syn: {mercy}] [ant: {mercilessness}]

3: leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person

or agency charged with administering justice; "he threw

himself on the mercy of the court" [syn: {clemency}, {mercy}]