misericordia

Meaning

Noun

• An amercement.
• A misericord, a thin-bladed dagger, used in the Middle Ages to give the death wound or mercy stroke to a fallen adversary.
• An indulgence as to food or dress granted to a member of a religious order.
• A charitable institution, established by royal foundation and managed by a religious order for providing care to the poor, the sick, prisoners, orphans, etc.
• One or all of the members of the religious order that operates a misericordia.
• A song that is sung as part of a service asking for God's mercy.
• Compassionate mercy.

Origin

• Borrowed from Latin misericordia.