(a) A disposition to mercy; the quality of being merciful; mercy, clemency, leniency; don ~, to exercise mercy; haven ~ of (o, on, upon), taken in to ~, be merciful to; king of ~, Jesus; (b) the quality of being compassionate; compassion, kindness; generosity of spirit, charity; also, affection, tenderness; presenten with ~, to present (sb.) with a symbol of compassion; haven ~ of, be compassionate toward; faderes (moderes, moderli) ~, paternal (maternal) love; natural ~, natural affection; yifte of ~, the divinely bestowed virtue of compassion; (c) an act of compassion, a kindness.

(a) A feeling of pity aroused by the suffering, distress, grief, etc., of another, sympathy, commiseration; (b) cacchen (taken) ~ of, to take pity on (sb. or sth.); haven ~ of (on, upon); thinken ~ of (on), feel pity for; haven no ~ to killen (slen), be restrained by no pity from killing, have no compunction about slaying; withouten ~, pitilessly, without feeling; (c) self-pity; (d) as a personified virtue; dame ~; (e) a cause or ground for pity, grievous event or act; ben ~, ~ ben, to be a pity, be too bad; the more ~; most ~.

(a) Sorrow, grief; misery, distress; also, remorse; feld of ~, the Elysian fields; haven ~ of, to be sorry for, regret; with gret ~, piteously; (b) the expression of grief, distress, misery, etc., lamentation, outcry; maken ~, to make lamentation.

Godliness, reverent and devout obedience to God, righteousness; devotion (to duty); piety; pl. deeds of righteousness.

A representation in painting, sculpture, etc., of the seated Virgin holding the body of the dead Christ on her lap, a Pietà; image of ~.

In surnames.