misericordias

Noun

misericordia (countable and uncountable, plural misericordias)

1. (obsolete) An amercement.
   • It is likely there was some Difference between a Misericordia and an Amerciament. For Example : It was called an Amercement, after it was reduced to a certain Sum; and a Misericordia both before and afterwards.1769, Thomas Madox, Gervasius (of Tilbury.), The History and Antiquities of the Exchequer of the Kings of England, in Two Periods, page 527
2. (historical) A misericord, a thin-bladed dagger, used in the Middle Ages to give the death wound or mercy stroke to a fallen adversary.
   • Near the armchair stood a table; on the table was a crucifix, near it a pitcher of water and a loaf of black bread; in the latter was thrust a misericordia, or that dreadful knife which knights used to despatch the wounded.1900, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Jeremiah Curtin, The Knights of the Cross
3. An indulgence as to food or dress granted to a member of a religious order.
   • He took care, too, that the misericordia, or superior dishes or dinners, should be partaken of by the whole community, and not, as had been customary, serve only to feast a few.1818, Edward Wedlake Brayley, John Preston Neale, The History and Antiquities of the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster, page 75
4. A charitable institution, established by royal foundation and managed by a religious order for providing care to the poor, the sick, prisoners, orphans, etc.
   • Foundlings are taken charge of and treated as orphans ; there are several funds set apart for their support by express decrees of former sovereigns of Portugal; they are received into the misericordias, and supported by the chamber of municipality.1834, Report from His Majesty's Commissioners for inquiring into the Administration and practical Operation of the Poor Laws, page 645
5. One or all of the members of the religious order that operates a misericordia.
   • If a casualty happens, if a man is hurt by any common char if he has a fit, the first of the Misericordia who perceives the accident rings a little bell, and immediately any of the fraternity who may be within hearing flock to the summons,—it is their business to lend the sufferer al the aid in...1826, M.H., “Leaves From a Journal”, in Tobias Merton, editor, The Literary magnet of the belles lettres, science, and the fine arts, volume 1, page 8
6. A song that is sung as part of a service asking for God's mercy.
   • The guide assisted the count to mount his mule, singing the while a sort of song which more closely resembled a misericordia than a tarentella ; but the count was too much occupied with the dinner he was to partake of, than to remark that the prelude was anything but mirthful.1843, Alexander Dumas, “The Benedictines of St. Nicholas-Le_Vieux”, in Bradshaw's Journal, volume 4, page 151

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