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What is "to be at the mercy of"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To be at the mercy of

Mercy \Mer"cy\ (m[~e]r"s[y^]), n.; pl. Mercies. [OE. merci, F. merci, L. merces, mercedis, hire, pay, reward, LL., equiv. to misericordia pity, mercy. L. merces is probably akin to merere to deserve, acquire. See Merit, and cf. Amerce.]

  1. Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency.

    Examples of justice must be made for terror to some; examples of mercy for comfort to others.
    --Bacon.

  2. Compassionate treatment of the unfortunate and helpless; sometimes, favor, beneficence.
    --Luke x. 37.

  3. Disposition to exercise compassion or favor; pity; compassion; willingness to spare or to help.

    In whom mercy lacketh and is not founden.
    --Sir T. Elyot.

  4. A blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or favor.

    The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
    --2 Cor. i. 3.

    Mercy seat (Bib.), the golden cover or lid of the Ark of the Covenant. See Ark, 2.

    Sisters of Mercy (R. C. Ch.),a religious order founded in Dublin in the year 1827. Communities of the same name have since been established in various American cities. The duties of those belonging to the order are, to attend lying-in hospitals, to superintend the education of girls, and protect decent women out of employment, to visit prisoners and the sick, and to attend persons condemned to death.

    To be at the mercy of, to be wholly in the power of.

    Syn: See Grace.

Usage examples of "to be at the mercy of".

I resented bitterly the absurd danger of our situation, as if to be at the mercy of that atrocious phantom had been a dishonoring necessity.

I resented bitterly the absurd danger of our situation, as if to be at the mercy of that atrocious phantom had been a dishonouring necessity.

I could not leave the boy here in this scene of death, and I could not well leave the property belonging to him to be at the mercy of any other plunderers of the forest.

It is quite a frightening thing to be at the mercy of your machines in deep space.

Tende, we were sure, fearing to be at the mercy of one of her former slaves, would strive to be a good first girl.

I had always wanted, even on Earth, thought I had feared it, too, to be at the mercy of men so powerful, so magnificent and commanding, that in relation to them I could, in all right, justice and propriety, be only a slave.

All animals feel themselves to be at the mercy of the material world, so that when serious problems arise, they are inclined to run away or surrender.