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  1. misericord love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Relaxation of monastic rules, as a dispensation from fasting.
  2. n. The room in a monastery used by monks who have been granted such a dispensation.
  3. n. A bracket attached to the underside of a hinged seat in a church stall against which a standing person may lean. Also called miserere.
  4. n. A narrow dagger used in medieval times to deliver the death stroke to a seriously wounded knight.

Wiktionary

  1. n. relaxation of monastic rules.
  2. n. The room in a monastery for monks granted such relaxation.
  3. n. a subsellium.
  4. n. a medieval dagger, used for the mercy stroke to a wounded foe.

Etymologies

  1. Established 1200–50 from Middle English misericorde (an act of clemency) from Middle French from Latin misericordia (pity). (Wiktionary)
  2. Middle English, pity, from Old French, from Latin misericordia, from misericors, misericord-, merciful : miserērī, to feel pity; see miserere + cor, cord-, heart; see kerd- in Indo-European roots. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

  • “Did that order of misericord blades come in, Thomas?”

    Simon & Schuster: Clockwork Angel

  • ““As we have,” he said, “in the course of this our toilsome journey, lost our meridian, 47 indulgence shall be given to those of our attendants who shall, from very weariness, be unable to attend the duty at prime, 48 and this by way of misericord or indulgentia.””

    The Monastery

  • “For those who didn't know her, Elaine was an amazing woman, who probably knew every misericord and choir stall in Western Europe and had photographed all of them.”

    Archive 2008-03-01

  • “This seat (or misericord), made for the clergy to rest on during services, includes a carving of a griffin and a rabbit who is trying to escape down a hole.”

    Alice's adventures started here...

  • “In her right hand was a rapier, and in the left a misericord, one of the thin elongated daggers used by plate-armored combatants.”

    Conqueror's Moon

  • ““Just tell me one thing,” I said, sliding the misericord out and handing it over to two first-year students.”

    To Say Nothing of the Dog

  • “A misericord carved with one of the Seven Works of Mercy.”

    To Say Nothing of the Dog

  • “The taller man held his falchion and a second weapon now, a long, dark-bladed misericord as main”

    Night Arrant

  • “He recoiled when he saw Sir Roger's glaive and misericord.”

    The High Crusade

  • “He rummaged in his saddlebags and, besides some homely equipment like a jar of oil, turned up an extra misericord.”

    Three Hearts and Three Lions

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Words that contain this word in their definition

  1. miserere

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  • bilby Is this a dagger I see before me? Nov 1, 2011

  • fbharjo It all hinges on relaxing! Nov 1, 2011

  • hernesheir Wonderful visuals. Nov 1, 2011

  • treeseed Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
    Variant(s): also mi·ser·i·corde \mə-ˈzer-ə-ˌkȯrd, -ˈser-\
    Function: noun
    Etymology: Medieval Latin misericordia seat in church, from Latin, mercy, from misericord-, misericors merciful, from misereri + cord-, cor heart — more at heart
    Date: circa 1515
    : a small projection on the bottom of a hinged church seat that gives support to a standing worshiper when the seat is turned up Feb 23, 2008

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‘misericord’ has been looked up 1645 times, loved by 1 person, added to 18 lists, commented on 4 times, and has a Scrabble score of 15.