(a) Mercy, pardon, forgiveness; source of pardon [last quot.]; merci and ~, milce and ~, ~ and milce; (b) bidden (clepen to, crien, sechen, yernen) ~, to beg for mercy or pardon; biden ~, hope or expect mercy; (c) don ~, haven ~ of, to have mercy on (sb., oneself); sheuen ~, be merciful; yeven ~, grant (sb.) mercy or pardon; haven ~, receive mercy or pardon; (d) in asseverations and exclamations; -- also, as meaningless metrical tag; thin ~, have mercy! pardon me!; bi (for, in) godes ~, bi cristes ~; etc.

Compassion; pity; thin ~, have pity!

(a) Favor, kindness, grace; permission, leave; (b) bidden (crien, greden, preien) ~, to implore (someone's) grace or favor; yernen ~, beg (someone's) permission; desire (someone's) favor; (c) finden (haven, winnen) ~, to receive (someone's) grace or favor; don the ~, show kindness or favor; yeven ~, grant (sb.) favor or grace; (d) thin ~, grant your favor! grant your help; by your leave! grant your permission [quots.: Octav., Libeaus].

(a) Honor, dignity; an honor, eminent position; bi ~, in stature or dignity; in ~, in honor, in an honorable manner; don to ~, to do (sth.) for (someone's) honor; holden in ~, hold (sb. or sth.) in honor or esteem; (b) ~ of the amiralte, the honor or position of a member of the admiralty; (c) safety, protection; proper or honorable condition; ben in ~ don, to be under the protection (of sb.).