misericord

== English == === Alternative forms === misericorde, miséricorde === Etymology === From 1200–1250, from Middle English misericorde (“an act of clemency”) from Old French, from Latin misericordia (“pity”). Doublet of misericordia. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /mɪˈzɛɹɪkɔːd/ (General American) IPA(key): /mɪˈzɛɹɪkɔɹd/ Rhymes: -ɛɹɪkɔː(ɹ)d === Noun === misericord (countable and uncountable, plural misericords) Relaxation of monastic rules. The room in a monastery for monks granted such relaxation. A ledge, sometimes ornately carved, attached to a folding church seat to provide support for a person standing for long periods; a subsellium. 1969, M. D. Anderson, The Iconography of British Misericords, G. L. Remnant, A Catalogue of Misericords in Great Britain, page xxiii, Misericords are a very humble form of medieval art and it is unlikely that the most distinguished carvers of any period were employed in making them, except, perhaps, during their apprentice years. A medieval dagger, used for the mercy stroke to a wounded foe. ==== Synonyms ==== (subsellium): mercy seat ==== Related terms ==== misericorde misericordia ==== Translations ==== === References === “misericord”, in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin, 2000, →ISBN. “misericord”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.