from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Merciful \Mer"ci*ful\, a. [Mercy + -ful.]
1. Full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to
pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish. Opposite of
{merciless}.
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The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious. --Ex.
xxxiv. 6.
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Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold. --Shak.
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2. Unwilling to give pain; compassionate.
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A merciful man will be merciful to his beast. --Old
Proverb.
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Syn: Compassionate; tender; humane; gracious; kind; mild;
clement; benignant.
[1913 Webster] -- {Mer"ci*ful*ly}, adv. --
{Mer"ci*ful*ness}, n.
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