/
mɪˈzɛrɪkɔːd/
n.
- a ledge projecting from the underside of a hinged seat in a choir stall, giving support to someone standing when the seat is folded up.
- historical an apartment in a monastery in which some relaxations of discipline were permitted.
- historical a small dagger for delivering a death stroke to a wounded enemy.
Etymology
ME (denoting pity): from OFr. misericorde, from L. misericordia, from misericors ‘compassionate’, from the stem of misereri ‘to pity’ + cor, cord- ‘heart’.