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mer·cer noun, British

: a dealer in usu. expensive fabrics

mer·cer·ise British variant of MERCERIZE

mer·cer·ize verb -ized; -iz·ing : to treat cotton yarn or cloth with alkali so that it looks silky or takes a better dye

1merchandise noun : the commodities or goods that are bought and sold in business

Synonyms

commodities, wares; also line; export, import; inventory, staples, stock, stuff

2merchandise verb -dised; -dis·ing : to buy and sell in business

Synonyms

deal, market, put up, retail, sell, vend—more at MARKET

mer·chan·dis·er noun : one that buys and sells in business

mer·chant noun 1 : a buyer and seller of commodities for profit

2 : STOREKEEPER

Synonyms

dealer, trader, trafficker; also businessman, businesswoman; buyer, purchaser; hawker, peddler; retailer, seller, shopkeeper, storekeeper, vendor; jobber, middleman, wholesaler; distributor, provider, supplier

mer·chant·able adjective : acceptable to buyers : MARKETABLE

mer·chant·man noun : a ship used in commerce

merchant marine noun : the commercial ships of a nation

merchant ship noun : MERCHANTMAN

mer·ci·ful·ly adverb 1 : in a merciful manner

2 : FORTUNATELY 2

mer·ci·less adjective : having or showing no mercy

— mer·ci·less·ly adverb

Synonyms

callous, hard, heartless, inhuman, inhumane, pitiless, soulless, unfeeling, unsympathetic—more at HARD

mer·cu·ri·al adjective 1 : unpredictably changeable

2 : MERCURIC

— mer·cu·ri·al·ly adverb

— mer·cu·ri·al·ness noun

Synonyms

capricious, changeable, fickle, inconstant, unpredictable—more at FICKLE

mer·cu·ric adjective : of, relating to, or containing mercury

mercuric chloride noun : a poisonous compound of mercury and chlorine used as an antiseptic and fungicide

mer·cu·ry noun, plural -ries 1 : a heavy silver-white liquid metallic chemical element used esp. in scientific instruments

2 cap : the planet nearest the sun

mer·cy noun, plural mercies [ORIGIN: ME, fr. AF merci, fr. ML merced-, merces, fr. L, price paid, wages, fr. merc-, merx merchandise]

1 : compassion shown to an offender; also : imprisonment rather than death for first-degree murder

2 : a blessing resulting from divine favor or compassion; also : a fortunate circumstance

3 : compassionate treatment of those in distress

— mer·ci·ful adjective

— mercy adjective

Synonyms

[1] charity, clemency, leniency, quarter; also humanitarianism, philanthropy; empathy, pity, sympathy, understanding; commiseration, favor, grace; benevolence, care, compassion, gentleness, goodness, goodwill, kindliness, kindness, meekness, mildness, niceness, softness, tenderness; altruism, generosity, magnanimity, nobility; affection, devotion, love, worship

[3] boon, courtesy, favor, grace, indulgence, kindness, service, turn—more at FAVOR

mercy killing noun : EUTHANASIA

1mere noun : LAKE, POOL

2mere adjective, superlative mer·est 1 : being nothing more than

2 : not diluted : PURE

mere·ly adverb : no more than

Synonyms

but, just, only, simply—more at JUST

mer·e·tri·cious adjective [ORIGIN: L meretricius, fr. meretrix prostitute, fr. merēre to earn]

: tawdrily attractive; also : SPECIOUS

— mer·e·tri·cious·ly adverb

— mer·e·tri·cious·ness noun

mer·gan·ser noun : any of various fish-eating wild ducks with a usu. crested head and a slender bill hooked at the end and serrated along the margins

merge verb merged; merg·ing 1 : to blend gradually

2 : to combine, unite, or coalesce into one

Synonyms

amalgamate, blend, commingle, fuse, incorporate, integrate, intermingle, mingle, mix—more at BLEND

merg·er noun 1 : the act or process of merging

2 : absorption by a corporation of one or more others

me·rid·i·an noun [ORIGIN: ME, fr. AF meridien, fr. meridien of noon, fr. L meridianus, fr. meridies noon, south, irreg. fr. medius mid + dies day]

1 : the highest point : CULMINATION

2 : any of the imaginary circles on the earth's surface passing through the north and south poles

— meridian adjective

Synonyms