Word: misericordia Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Latin misericordia. Doublet of misericord. Pronunciation: /mɪˌzɛɹɪˈkɔːdi.ə/, /mɪˌzɛɹɪˈkɔɹdi.ə/ 1. An amercement. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable Example: It is likely there was some Difference between a Misericordia and an Amerciament. For Example : It was called an Amercement, after it was reduced to a certain Sum; and a Misericordia both before and afterwards. Example: Neither do I see any reason why such an award of a misericordia by a judge of a court-leet, should express any certain sum for which the party should be in misericordia, except in such cases only where no other person is afterwards to affere it; for in other cases the award of a misericordia is only in order to authorise others to fix the sum which the party is to pay to the king for his default; 2. A misericord, a thin-bladed dagger, used in the Middle Ages to give the death wound or mercy stroke to a fallen adversary. Labels: countable, historical, uncountable Example: Near the armchair stood a table; on the table was a crucifix, near it a pitcher of water and a loaf of black bread; in the latter was thrust a misericordia, or that dreadful knife which knights used to despatch the wounded. Example: The feeble light of the lamp of the Madonna's shrine, most religiously attended to even here, fell upon a dark, cruel face, bearing a fixed and horrible grin, the result of a gash upon the upper lip; he carried openly in one hand a misericordia, his sharp Calabrian knife, in the other a lantern. 3. An indulgence as to food or dress granted to a member of a religious order. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: He took care, too, that the misericordia, or superior dishes or dinners, should be partaken of by the whole community, and not, as had been customary, serve only to feast a few. Example: To the same brethren also, for the misericordia house, and nowhere else, 24 dishes, 12 saltcellars, and 2 chargers of silver of 10 lbs., weighing 40 lbs., and two books of coronations marked N and L. 4. A charitable institution, established by royal foundation and managed by a religious order for providing care to the poor, the sick, prisoners, orphans, etc. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Foundlings are taken charge of and treated as orphans ; there are several funds set apart for their support by express decrees of former sovereigns of Portugal; they are received into the misericordias, and supported by the chamber of municipality. Example: In 1593, the senate reported to the king of Portugal that Macao had a cathedral with two parishes a misericordia with two hospitals, and four religious bodies, namely Augustines, Dominicans, Jesuits, and Capuchins. 5. One or all of the members of the religious order that operates a misericordia. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: If a casualty happens, if a man is hurt by any common char if he has a fit, the first of the Misericordia who perceives the accident rings a little bell, and immediately any of the fraternity who may be within hearing flock to the summons,—it is their business to lend the sufferer al the aid in their power; Example: The excitement of the numerous people I met was great, but after the first few minutes, I dreaded attracting attention, and had the sense to refrain from running, trusting that the sight of a Misericordia walking barefoot would not excite remark. 6. A song that is sung as part of a service asking for God's mercy. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The guide assisted the count to mount his mule, singing the while a sort of song which more closely resembled a misericordia than a tarentella ; but the count was too much occupied with the dinner he was to partake of, than to remark that the prelude was anything but mirthful. Example: When death stared me in the face, and she could do nothing for a perishing heretic except to solicit a passing procession to chant a misericordia por un infirmo American, that kindly office was not wanting. 7. Compassionate mercy. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Under these impressions, I am come my Brother, to offer you, what may well be considered, the truest Misericordia; in the consolations of religion to the sorrows of the heart: in comparison of which, the assistance we afford to soften the miseries of the body, become trifling and unimportant. Example: The crews are exceedingly timid, and instead of making exertions to extricate their vessel from any impending danger, they throw themselves on their knees, beating the breasts and calling loudly upon their saint, for misericordia.