different between compassion vs merci

English

Etymology

From Middle English compassioun, compassion, from Old French compassion, from Ecclesiastical Latin compassio (“sympathy”), from Latin compati, past participle compassus (“to suffer together with”), from com- (“together”) + pati (“to suffer”); see passion.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /k?m?pæ?.?n/
• Rhymes: -æ??n

Noun

compassion (usually uncountable, plural compassions)

1. Deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it.
   • 1849, Robert Leighton (Archbishop of Glasgow), A practical commentary upon the first Epistle of St. Peter (page 47)

     Oh! the unspeakable privilege to have Him for our Father, who is the Father of mercies and compassions, and those not barren, fruitless pityings, for He is withal the God of all consolations.

Synonyms

• (deep awareness of another's suffering): empathy, mercy, ruth, pity, sorrow, tenderheartedness
• (desire to relieve another's suffering): kindness, heart, mercy, ruth, tenderheartedness

Derived terms

• compassionable
• compassionate
• compassion fatigue

Related terms

• compatible
• passion

Translations

Verb

compassion (third-person singular simple present compassions, present participle compassioning, simple past and past participle compassioned)

1. (obsolete) To pity.
   • 1607, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Titus Andronicus, IV. i. 124:

     O heavens, can you hear a good man groan / And not relent, or not compassion him?

   • 1830, The Last of the Supernaturalists, in James Fraser (editor), Fraser's Magazine, Volume 1, page 226,

     Both wanted in early life the one thing essential to every individual, of whatever nature or degree of intellect, a kind, compassioning adviser; - a true friend; […] .

Further reading

• compassion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• compassion in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin compassi?, compassi?nem, from Latin compatior.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??.pa.sj??/

Noun

compassion f (plural compassions)

1. compassion, pity

Related terms

• compatir
• passion

Further reading

• “compassion” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Middle English

Noun

compassion

1. Alternative form of compassioun

English

Etymology

French merci (“thank you”)

Interjection

merci

1. (colloquial) thank you

Noun

merci (plural mercis)

1. An extra card or set of cards that is allowed to play at the end of various card games.

Anagrams

• CRIME, REMIC, crime

Alemannic German

Etymology

Borrowed from French merci.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?rsi/

Interjection

merci

1. thank you

Synonyms

• dankche
• fergälts Got
• tank
• vrattrus Got
• wol vergelzgott

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from French merci.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Valencian) IPA^(key): /?m??.si/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /?m?r.si/

Interjection

merci

1. (colloquial) thank you

Synonyms

• gràcies
• mercès

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French merci.

Interjection

merci

1. (chiefly Belgium) thank you

   Synonyms: dank, dank je, dank je wel, dank u, dank u wel, bedankt

Noun

merci f (plural mercis, diminutive mercikes n)

1. (chiefly Belgium) thank you

   Synonyms: dank, dankjewel, dankuwel

French

Etymology

From Middle French merci, mercy, from Old French merci, from Latin merc?dem, accusative singular of merc?s (“wages, fee, price”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m??.si/
• (France, Paris) IPA^(key): [m??.si]
• (Louisiana) IPA^(key): [mæ(?).si]
• Homophone: mercis

Interjection

merci

1. thank you

Noun

merci f (uncountable)

1. mercy, grace

Derived terms

Descendants

Further reading

• “merci” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• cimer, crime

German

Etymology

Borrowed from French merci.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m???si?/
• (Switzerland) IPA^(key): /?m??.si/

Interjection

merci

1. (chiefly Switzerland) thank you

   Synonyms: danke, danke schön, ich danke schön

Further reading

• “merci” in Duden online

Italian

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: mèr?ci

Noun

merci f

1. plural of merce

Anagrams

• cremi

Latin

Noun

merc?

1. dative singular of merx

Norman

Alternative forms

• mercie (Guernsey)

Etymology

From Old French merci (“mercy; clemency”), from Latin merc?s, merc?dem (“wages, fee, price”).

Interjection

merci

1. (Guernsey) thank you

Derived terms

• mercie bian (“thank you very much”)

Old French

Alternative forms

• merchi

Noun

merci f (nominative singular merci)

1. mercy; clemency