Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MER'CA-BLE, a. [L. mercor.]

That is to be bought or sold.

MER-CAN-TAN'TE, n. [It. mercatante.]

A foreign trader. [Not in use.] Shak.

MER'CAN-TILE, a. [It. and Fr. from L. mercans, mercor, to buy; Port, and Sp. mercantil.]

1. Trading; commercial; carrying on commerce; as, mercantile nations; the mercantile class of men.
2. Pertaining or relating to commerce or trade; as, mercantile business.

MER'CAT, n. [L. mercatus.]

Market; trade. [Not in use.] Sprat.

MER'CE-NA-RI-LY, adv.

In a mercenary manner. Spectator.

MER'CE-NA-RI-NESS, n. [from mercenary.]

Venality; regard to hire or reward. Boyle.

MER'CE-NA-RY, a. [Fr. mercenaire; L. mercenarius, from merces, reward, wages; mercor, to buy.]

1. Venal; that may be hired; actuated by the hope of reward; moved by the love of money; as, a mercenary prince or judge.
2. Hired; purchased by money; as, mercenary services; mercenary soldiers.
3. Sold for money; as, mercenary blood. Shak.
4. Greedy of gain; mean; selfish; as, a mercenary disposition.
5. Contracted from motives of gain; as, a mercenary marriage.

MER'CE-NA-RY, n.

One who is hired; a soldier that is hired into foreign service; a hireling.

MER'CER, n. [Fr. mercier; It. merciaio; from L. merx, wares, commodities.]

One who deals in silks. Howel.

MER'CER-SHIP, n.

The business of a mercer.

MER'CER-Y, n. [Fr. mercerie; It. merceria.]

The commodities or goods in which a mercer deals; trade of mercers. Graunt.

MER'CHAND, v.i. [Fr. marchander.]

To trade. [Not used.] Bacon.

MER'CHAND-ISE, n. [Fr. from marchand, a merchant, or marchander, to cheapen.]

1. The objects of commerce; wares, goods, commodities, whatever is usually bought or sold in trade. But provisions daily sold in market, horses, cattle, and fuel are not usually included in the term, and real estate never.
2. Trade; traffick; commerce. Shak.

MER'CHAND-ISE, v.i.

To trade; to carry on commerce.

MER'CHAND-IS-ING, a.

Trading. Moore.

MER'CHAND-RY, n.

Trade; commerce. [Not in use.] Saunderson.

MER'CHANT, n. [Fr. marchand; It. mercante; Sp. merchante; Arm. marchadour; from L. mercor, to buy.]

1. A man who trafficks or carries on trade with foreign countries, or who exports and imports goods and sells them by wholesale.
2. In popular usage, any trader, or one who deals in the purchase and sale of goods.
3. A ship in trade. [Not used.]

MER'CHANT, v.i.

To trade. [Not in use.]

MER'CHANT-A-BLE, a.

Fit for market; such as is usually sold in market, or such as will bring the ordinary price; as, merchantable wheat or timber.

MER'CHANT-LIKE, a.

Like a merchant.

MER'CHANT-MAN, n.

A ship or vessel employed in the transportation of goods, as distinguished from a ship of war.

MER'CIA-BLE, a.

Merciful. [Not in use.] Gower.

MER'CI-FUL, a. [from mercy.]

1. Having or exercising mercy; compassionate; tender; disposed to pity offenders and to forgive their offenses; unwilling to punish for injuries; applied appropriately to the Supreme Being. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth. Exod. xxxiv.
2. Compassionate; tender; unwilling to give pain; not cruel. A merciful man will be merciful to his beast.

MER'CI-FUL-LY, adv.

With compassion or pity; tenderly; mildly.

MER'CI-FUL-NESS, n.

Tenderness toward offenders; willingness to forbear punishment; readiness to forgive. Hammond.