What does "merciful" mean?

Merciful: Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold. Shak.

Additional senses

  1. 2.Unwilling to give pain; compassionate. A merciful man will be merciful to his beast. Old Proverb. -- Mer"ci*ful*ly, adv. -- Mer"ci*ful*ness, n.

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