MISERERE

Etymology

Proper noun

Miserere

The 51st Psalm, sometimes set to music.

Etymology

Noun

miserere (plural misereres)

A prayer for mercy.

An expression of lamentation or complaint.

A medieval dagger, used for the mercy stroke to a wounded foe; misericord.

(architecture) A small projecting boss or bracket on the underside of the hinged seat of a church stall, intended to give some support to a standing worshipper when the seat is turned up; a misericord.

Ileus.

Source: Wiktionary


Mis`e*re"re, n. Etym: [L., have mercy, fr. misereri to have mercy, fr. miser. See Miser.]

1. (R. C. Ch.)

Definition: The psalm usually appointed for penitential acts, being the 50th psalm in the Latin version. It commences with the word miserere.

2. A musical composition adapted to the 50th psalm. Where only the wind signs miserere. Lowell.

3. (Arch.)

Definition: A small projecting boss or bracket, on the under side of the hinged seat of a church stall (see Stall). It was intended, the seat being turned up, to give some support to a worshiper when standing. Called also misericordia.

4. (Med.)

Definition: Same as Ileus.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

27 June 2025

SQUARE

(adjective) having four equal sides and four right angles or forming a right angle; “a square peg in a round hole”; “a square corner”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Decaffeinated coffee comes from a chemical process that takes out caffeine from the beans. Pharmaceutical and soda companies buy the extracted caffeine.

coffee icon