What is the meaning of mercy?

noun

• Leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice.
  • usage: "he threw himself on the mercy of the court"
  • synonyms: clemency, mercifulness
• A disposition to be kind and forgiving.
  • usage: "in those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband"
  • synonyms: mercifulness
• The feeling that motivates compassion.
  • synonyms: mercifulness
• Something for which to be thankful.
  • usage: "it was a mercy we got out alive"
• Alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed.
  • usage: "distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy"