misericord

or mis·er·i·corde

[ miz-er-i-kawrd, mi-zer-i-kawrd ]

noun
  1. a room in a monastery set apart for those monks permitted relaxation of the monastic rule.

  2. Also subsellium. a small projection on the underside of a hinged seat of a church stall, which, when the seat is lifted, gives support to a person standing in the stall.

  1. a medieval dagger, used for the mercy stroke to a wounded foe.

Origin of misericord

1
1200–50; Middle English misericorde literally, pity, mercy, an act of clemency <Middle French <Latin misericordia pity, equivalent to misericord- (stem of misericors) compassionate (miseri-, stem of miserēre to pity + cord- stem of cor heart) + -ia-y3

Words Nearby misericord

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How to use misericord in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for misericord

misericord

misericorde

/ (mɪˈzɛrɪˌkɔːd) /


noun
  1. a ledge projecting from the underside of the hinged seat of a choir stall in a church, on which the occupant can support himself while standing

  2. Christianity

    • a relaxation of certain monastic rules for infirm or aged monks or nuns

    • a monastery where such relaxations can be enjoyed

  1. a small medieval dagger used to give the death stroke to a wounded foe

Origin of misericord

1
C14: from Old French, from Latin misericordia compassion, from miserēre to pity + cor heart

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