mercy

n 1: 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}, {mercifulness}]

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

wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband"

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

3: the feeling that motivates compassion [syn: {mercifulness}]

4: something for which to be thankful; "it was a mercy we got

out alive"

5: alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the

distressed; "distributing food and clothing to the flood

victims was an act of mercy"