mercifulness
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (3)
- the feeling that motivates compassionSynonyms: mercyType of compassion, compassionatenessKinds forgiveness
- a disposition to be kind and forgiving“in those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband”Synonyms: mercyOpposite mercilessnessType of humanenessKinds compassion, lenience, forgivingness
- leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice“he threw himself on the mercy of the court”Synonyms: clemencymercyType of lenience, leniencyKinds commutation, reprieve, amnesty, quarter
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
“mercifulness” is listed under Merciful.
Mer′ci·ful adjective
Origin: Mercy + -ful.
1. Full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish. Opposite of merciless.
The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious.— Ex. xxxiv. 6.
Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold.— William Shakespeare
2. Unwilling to give pain; compassionate.
A merciful man will be merciful to his beast.— Old Proverb.
Synonyms: Compassionate; tender; humane; gracious; kind; mild; clement; benignant.
— Mer′wb-a1′>′ci·ful·ly, adverb — Mer′wb-a1′>′ci·ful·ness, noun
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54