Mercury 
37ir. 
Whatever iu:i> lie the lieialit "f iln- i,"/rurj/ (ill the mercy (IIR'r'si), . ; pi. u ri'ii 
hariiiiii in i. u ..inlili n ami rapiil fall Is a sure niKii of foul lutri'it mi rail' mi riiir nmr^i n, 
,:!.,. /;. MMkM, in M<"len, IMMnbfjr, ).. M, ../; ;',.;,.,. _^ m ,, w = 
8. ['.''.] () A plant of the genus Mucurialiy, 
ehieih I/, /ii'i'i Hiiix, the dog's-mercury, locally 
called hriiiixh liiilxnin (which see, under Kent- 
ish), in id M. tin n in/, the annual or French mer- 
cury. See Mi-iriiritilis. (b) In older usage, the 
< 'lii'iiiii>iiiliinii ISniin.'i-lli in ifiif. See allgootl and 
i/iMMl-l\ini/-lli in'if. This is the English, false, or 
'irilil mi ri-nrii. 9. In lift:, the tincture purple, 
when blazon ing is done by the planets. Argental 
mercury, see oriental. Baron's mercury tana. orig. 
'barren mercury], the male plant of Mercurialii percnni*. 
Boy's mercury, Hie female plant "f Mercurialu annua ' 
the sexes having been mistaken). Corneous mercury, of an offender. 
pi. mtrriex (-siz). [< ME. 
', merci, < OF. / 
= Sp. merced = Pg. 
It. merce, grace, thanks, mercy, pity, pardon, 
< L. merces (merced-), pay, reward, also bribe, 
price, detriment, condition, income, etc., ML. 
also thanks, grace, mercy, pity, pardon, < merx 
(mere-), merchandise/ merere, mcreri, gain, ac- 
quiru, buy, also deserve, orig. 'receive as a 
share': see merit. Cf. amerce, gramercy.] 1. 
Pitying forbearance or forgiveness; compas- 
sionate leniency toward enemies or wrong- 
doers ; the disposition to treat offenders kindly 
or tenderly; the exercise of clemency in favor 
Same us calnmrl. - Extinction of mercury. See extinc- 
tion. Girl's mercury, the male plant of Mercuriali* 
annua. see nrnfe', 2. Golden mercury, Mercurialii pe- 
rennis, var. aurea. Hydrosublimate of mercury, a 
tniile-name for calomel prepared by condensing the vapor 
of memiruus eWorld wltn steam In a large receiver, 
whirh causes ft to deposit 
in an impalpable powder 
absolutely free from any 
trace of corrosive subli- 
mate. Mercury age Di- 
eter. See ayometer. 
Mercury air-pump, an 
apparatus used for produ- 
cing a vacuum, consisting 
essentially of a reservoir 
above from which mercury 
flows down through a 
small vertical tube, the 
vessel to be exhausted 
being attached at the side 
(at C in the figure) at a 
height something more 
than 30 inches above the 
lower receptacle. The de- 
scending drops of mer- 
cury carry with thorn por- 
tions of the air or other 
gas from the receiver, and 
if the process is long con- 
tinued, the supply vessel 
at the top being kept full, 
a nearly perfect vacuum 
may be obtained. This 
form of air-pump is often 
called a Sprengtl pump. 
It gives a much higher de- 
gree of exhaustion than Is 
possible with the ordinary 
mechanical air-pnmp, and 
Is much used not only in 
physical experiments but 
alsofor practical purposes, 
for example in removing 
the air from the glass bulbs 
of the incandescent elec- 
tric lamps. - Mount Of 
Mercury, in palmistry. 
See mou nt 1 , 6. - Native or 
virgin mercury, the 
pure metal found in the 
form of globules In cav- 
ities of the ores of this 
metal. Three - seeded 
mercury, a plant of the genus Acalypha, of the same 
family as Mercurialii. and more or less similar in appear- 
ance. The fruit splits into three two-valved one-seeded 
nutlets. It is a large genus, chiefly tropical or subtropi- 
cal. Jinny of the species are shrubby ; a few (mostly her- 
baceous) are found in the Tnited States. Transit Of 
Mercury, a passage of Mercury over the disk of the sun. 
Vegetable mercury, a Brazilian plant, Franciicea 
utiijlora, also called manatn. See Francitcea. 
mercuryt (mer'ku-ri), v. t. [< mercury, .] To 
wash with n preparation of mercury. 
They are as tender as ... a lady's face new mercuried. 
B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, i. 1. 
mercury-cup (mer'ku-ri-kup), . 1. The cis- 
tern of a mercury barometer, which is filled 
with mercury and in which the lower end of the 
barometer-tube is inserted. 2. A small open 
cup containing mercury, used in electrical in- 
struments and apparatus as a connection for 
conductors. The cup may be of conducting material 
and connected with one end of the wire forming the cir- 
cuit, in which case the circuit will be closed by inserting 
thr other eml i>f the wire in the mercury; or the cup may 
he of nim-eomiuctiiiK material, in which case both ends of 
tho ire must he inserted in tho mercury toclose the circuit. 
mercury-furnace (mer'ku-ri-fer*nas), n, A 
furnace in which cinnabar is roasted in order 
to cause the pure mercury to pass off in fumes, 
which are condensed in a series of vessels. 
mercury-gatherer (mer'kn-ri-gaTH"er-er), . 
In nit'tnl-irurkiiia, a stirring apparatus which 
causes quicksilver that has become floured or 
Mercury Air-pump. 
Thfc letter C marks the point 
where the vessel to be eihatisted is 
Jtt.l 111' I. 
A man witheout marti no marsi shall have 
In tyme of ned when he dothe It crave. 
MS. Aihmok 48. (Hattiicett.) 
The Lord to longsuflering, and of great mercy, forgiving 
iniquity and tranugression, and by no means clearing the 
guilty. Num. xiv. 18. 
A woman's mercy Is very little, 
But a man's mercy Is more. 
Sir Hugh, or the Jew'i Daughter (Chad's Ballads, in. 334). 
The sentiment of mercy is the natural recoil which the 
laws of the universe provide to protect mankind from de- 
struction by savage passions. Emerson, John Brown. 
2. An act or exercise of forbearance, good will, 
or favor; also, a kindness undeserved or un- 
expected; a fortunate or providential circum- 
stance; a blessing: as, it is a mercy that they 
escaped. 
I am not worthy of the least of all the mtrcitt . . . 
which tliuii hast shewed unto thy servant. Gen. xxiii. 10. 
E'en a Judgment, making way for thee, 
Seems in their eyes a mercy for thy sake. 
Cowper, Task, 11. 132. 
3. Pity ; compassion ; benevolence : as, a work 
of mercy. 
In coueltise lyued haue y, 
And neuere dide werkis of mercyes. 
Hymns to Virgin, etc. (E. E. T. 8.X p. 99. 
Which now of these three . . . was neighbour unto him 
that f eU among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed 
mercy on him. Luke x. 3S, 37. 
4. Discretionary action; unrestrained exercise 
of the will and the power to punish and to 
spare : as, to be at one's mercy (that is, wholly 
in one's power). 
At length, vpon their submission, the king tookc them 
to mercie, vpon their fine, which was seized at twentle 
thousand marks. Holimhed, Hen. III., an. 1265. 
And the offender's life lies in the mercy 
Of the duke only. SAo*., M. of V., Iv. 1. 355. 
Last, 'bout thy stiff neck we this halter hang, 
And leave thee to the mercy of the court. 
Beau, and Ft., Knight of Malta, v. -2. 
A lover is ever complaining of cruelty while anything is 
denied him ; and when the lady ceases to be cruel, she Is, 
from the next moment, at his mercy. Sie\fl. 
Covenanted mercies. See covenant. Fathers of 
Mercy, the name of a society of Roman Catholic mission- 
ary priests, founded In France in 1806 and Introduced into 
the United states in 1842.- For meroyl for mercy's 
Bake I an exclamation, usually an appeal to pity. 
Per. Myself am Naples; 
Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb, beheld 
The king my father wreck'd. 
Mir. Alack, for mercy '. 
SAo*., Tempest, I. 3. 487. 
Ood-a-mercyt. See Godi. Oreat mercy*, (imitated 
from yramercy, ME. grant mercy. See gramercy.] Great 
favor. 
Great mercy, sure, for to enlarge a thrall 
Whose freedom shall thee turne to greatest scath ! 
Spenser, F. (}., II. v. 18. 
Sisters of Mercy. See sisterhood. Spiritual and 
corporal works of mercy. In the middle ages, seven 
great works of mercy were enumerated called the spirit- 
ual and as many called the corporal works of mercy. The 
seven works of corporal mercy are to feed the hungry, give 
drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit prisoners, visit 
the sick, harbor strangers, bury the dead ; of spiritual 
mercy, to convert sinners, instruct the ignorant, counsel 
the doubtful, console the afflicted, bear wrongs patiently, 
forgive Injuries, pray for the living and the dead. CotA. 
Diet. 
In fnlflllynge of Godis commandmentls and of the seven 
dedis of inrrrii bodill and gostly to a manys euen cristen. 
ttolle, quoted in Hampole s Prose Treatises (E. E. T. S.). 
IPref., p. xi. 
To cry (one) mercy, (a) See cry, r. (&) To proclaim a tax. 
l'.i it Athelstan the malstrie wan and did thani mercie crie, 
& alle Sorthwales he sat to treuage hie. 
Jti>b. of Brunne, p. 28. 
Clemency, etc. See leniency. 
-.., <) * ,. = DYH. A. *- ttrmrncH. civ. octj *CH*GHVH, 
mixed wit h sulphur in amalgainatnig to resume m '^ ,.. , r < M1 .;. ,.,./,. < OF. merrier, thank. 
tlm fluiil A/winiTiAvi ^nvnnfyn tlifi ofon^\- rT nii>- *"y **. ' . *- 
4-1'. mi i'i-i . u mi t'rf.~\ 1. To thank. 
Mlldeliche thenne lleede merciede hem alle 
Of heore grete goodnesse. Pien Plowman (AX iii. 21 . 
the fluid condition, through the agency of me- -[-J^e < merci tnank . mer( ,y. fine: 8ee merr,,. 
clianical agitation and rubbing. /.. //. hmi/lit. 
mercury-gOOSefOOt ( mer ' ku - ri - gos ' fut), M. 
Same as unri'iiry, 8 (l>). 
mercury-holder (inei-'ku-ri-hol der), H. Avul- T , 
canitc cup. with a cover, used by dentists in * 1 
preparing amalgam. 
Mercury* S-Violet (mer'ku-riz-vi (.-let ), H. The 
common canterbury-bell, Campanula tfe&m*. 
Korstora did somoun. enquered vp A donn 
Whiik men of toun had taken his vonysoun. 
,v \\h<i that wns Rilty thorgh the foresters sawe. 
Merreitl w:is full lii. Rob. o/ Brunne, p. 112. 
mere 
mercy-seat (mer'si-set ). . The |.lace i,t mercN 
or forgiveness; the propitiatoVy ; specifically, 
the covering of the ark of the covenant aiming 
the Jews. This was of gold, surmounted at each end 
by a cherub with outstretched wing*. On this covvrlnii 
the blood of the yearly atonement was sprinkled, and from 
this place God gave hi* oraclei to Motes or to the high 
priest. Hence, (o approach the mercy-teat l to draw near 
to God In prayer. 
mercy-stock t, >< A propitiation. 
Our Saviour, our Ransom, our Spokesman, our Mercy- 
ttndr. Hutchinion, Works, p. 1W2. (Damn.) 
mercy-stroke (iner'si-strok), n. The death- 
stroke, as putting an end to pain ; the coup de 
grace. 
merdt (merd), n. [Also mard; < OF. (and F.) 
merde = Pr. mert/a = Sp. micrda = Pg. It. menla, 
< L. merda, dung, ordure.] Ordure; dung; ex- 
crement. 
U after thou of garlike stronge 
The favour wilt expell, 
A mard Is sure the onoly meane 
To put away the smell. 
Kendall i Flou-ert of Epigrammet (1677). (Xarei.) 
Halre o' th' head, burnt clouts, chalk, merdt, and clay. 
B. Jonion. Alchemist, 11. 1. 
Merdivorse (mer-div'o-re), n.pl. [NL., fern. pi. 
of merditorus : see merdivorous,'] A group of 
dipterous insects which feed upon dung, 
merdivorous (mer-div'o-rus), a. [< NL. mrr- 
divorus, < L. merda, dung. + vorare, devour.] 
Feeding upon excrement; devouring dung. 
mere 1 (mer), . [Formerly also meer, metre, 
mear; < ME. mere, meere, < AS. mere, a lake, 
pool, the sea, = OS. men, a lake, =OFries. mar, 
a ditch, = MD. mare, maer, D. meer, meir = OHG. 
man, mari, men, men, MHO. mer, G. meer = 
Icel. marr = Goth, marei, a lake; = W. mor = 
Gael. IT. muir = Lith. mares = Russ. more = L. 
mare (> It. mare = Pg. Sp. Pr. mar = OF. mer. 
mier, meir, F. mer), sea, ML. also mara, > OF. 
and F. mare, f., a lake, pool, pond; cf. Skt. 
maru, desert, < / mar, die: see mor ft, mortal. 
Hence in comp. mermaM, merman, etc. ; and 
ult . deri v. marsh, mari&h .] Apool;asmalllake 
or pond. [Not used in the U. 8., except artifi- 
cially in some local names, in imitation of Brit- 
ish names : as, Harlem mere in Central Park in 
New York.] 
Then he wendez his way, wepande for care, 
Towarde the mere of Mambre, wepande for sorewe. 
Alliterative 1'oetnt (ed. Morris), 11. 778. 
As two Fishes, cast into a Meer, 
With fruitful Spawn will furnish In few yeer 
A Town with victuall. 
Sylvester, tr. of Dn Bartas's Weeks, il., The Colonies. 
On the edge of the mere the Prince of Orange had al- 
ready ordered a cluster of forts to be erected. 
Motley, Dutch Republic, II. 431. 
mere 2 (mer), n. [Formerly also meer, meere, 
mear, meare; < ME. meer, mere, < A8. gemcere 
= D. meer, a limit, boundary, = Icel. nurrr, 
border-land.] 1. A boundary; boundary-line. 
The furious Team, that on the Cambrian side 
Doth Shropshire as a meare from Hereford divide. 
Dray tun, Polyolbion. (Xarci.) 
As It were, a common mear between lands. 
Abp. Uaher, Ans. to Malone, p. 309. 
2. A balk or furrow serving as a boundary- or 
dividing-line in a common field; also, a boun- 
dary-stone ; a merestone. [Obsolete or pro- 
vincial.] 3. A private carriage-road. [North. 
Eng.] 4. A measure of 29 or 31 yards in the 
Peak of Derbyshire in England, it u defined by 
Blountas "29 yards In the low Peak of Derbyshire and 31 
in the high." Mining claims were measured by meres, the 
discoverer of a lode being allowed to claim two meres. 
mere 2 t (mer), r. [Also meer, wear, etc.; < mere 2 , 
.] I. trany. To limit; bound; divide or cause 
division in. 
That brave honour of the Latine name. 
Which mear'il her rule with Africa and Byte. 
Spenser, Ruins of Rome, St. 22. 
At such a point, 
When half to half the world opposed, he being 
The nuered question. SAo*., A. and C.. 111. IS. 10. 
II. intrans. To set divisions and bounds. 
For bounding and mearing. to him that will keepe It 
justely, it is a bond that bridoleth power and desire. 
North's PI., L 55. D. (Xaret.) 
mere 3 (mer), . [Earlymod. E. also meer, meere; 
= OF. mer, mier = Pr. mer, mier = Sp. Pg. It. 
mero,< L. merug, pure, unmixed (as wine), hence 
bare, only, mere.] 1. Pure ; sheer ; unmixed. 
For neither can he fly, nor other harme, 
But trust unto his strength and manhood meare. 
Spenter, F. Q., II. xi. 34. 
The most part of them are degenerated and growen all- 
most meere Irish. Spenser, State of Ireland. 
Our wine Is here mingled with water and with myrrh ; 
there |in the world to come) it is mere and unmixed. 
Jer. Taylor. Worthy ronimunlcant. 
