Mercy and Merchant Come From the Same Word
Mercy is compassion shown to someone in your power. It shares a root with merchant, through the idea of a payment or reward.
Mercy is compassion shown towards someone you have the power to punish. Its root is commercial: Latin *merces* meant wages, payment or reward, and it produced both *mercy* — through the church sense of a heavenly reward for compassion — and *merchant*, *commerce* and *market*. Compassion and trade descend from the same word for payment. French *merci*, meaning thank you, is the same word, acknowledging a favour received.
- Compassion in power. *Beg for mercy.*
- A blessing. *A small mercy.*
- Merciful — showing mercy. *A merciful ruling.*
- Merchant — from the same root. *A merchant.*
- Latin — *merces*, payment. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mercy | Show mercy. |
| Plural | mercies | Small mercies. |
| Adjective | merciful | Merciful. |
| Adjective | merciless | Merciless. |
| Latin | merces | Wages, reward. |
- The court showed mercy.Law.
- Be thankful for small mercies.Idiom.
- Merci means thank you, from the same word.French.
The merces family
- Mercy — through the idea of a heavenly reward
- Merchant — one who trades
- Commerce — trade between parties
- Market — the place of trading
- Mercenary — one who fights for pay
Old French *merci*, pity or thanks, from Latin *merces*, payment or reward, from *merx*, goods.
Are mercy and merchant related?
Yes. Both come from Latin merces, meaning payment or reward, one through trade and one through the church.
Why does merci mean thank you in French?
It is the same word, acknowledging a favour or kindness received as something owed in return.