Misericord
/ˈmɪz.ər.ɪ.kɔːrd/noun
A medieval seat with a hinged support that let clergy rest while appearing to stand, or a dagger with a narrow blade.
Did you know?Misericord comes through Church Latin from Latin misericordia, “compassion,” built from miserēre “to pity” + cor “heart,” so its oldest meaning is literally mercy in the heart.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱḗr
“heart”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*miser-
“to pity, be compassionate”
Latin
Latin
misericordia
“compassion, pity, mercy”
Old French
Old French
misericorde
“mercy; a short dagger”
Middle English
English
misericord
“mercy; a dagger; a church seat with a concealed support”
Modern English
English
misericord
“a hinged support under a folding seat, or a narrow-bladed dagger”