Mer"ci*ful (?), a. [Mercy + -ful.]
1.
Full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish.
The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious.
Ex. xxxiv. 6.
Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold.
Shak.
2.
Unwilling to give pain; compassionate.
A merciful man will be merciful to his beast.
Old Proverb.
Syn. -- Compassionate; tender; humane; gracious; kind; mild; clement; benignant.
-- Mer"ci*ful*ly, adv. -- Mer"ci*ful*ness, n.
© Webster 1913.