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Hesitate vs Mercy - What's the difference?

hesitate | mercy |

As a verb hesitate

is to stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.

As a proper noun mercy is

, one of the less common puritan virtue names.

hesitate

English

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Verb

(hesitat)
  • To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.
  • He hesitated''' whether to accept the offer or not; men often '''hesitate in forming a judgment.
    (Alexander Pope)
  • To stammer; to falter in speaking.
  • (transitive, poetic, rare) To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.
  • *
  • Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See

    Synonyms

    * deliberate * demur * doubt * falter * mammer * scruple * stammer * waver

    Derived terms

    * hesitant * hesitation

    mercy

    English

    (wikipedia mercy)

    Noun

  • (uncountable) relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another
  • (uncountable) forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.
  • (uncountable) A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion
  • (countable) Instances of forbearance or forgiveness.
  • A blessing, something to be thankful for.
  • (phrasal) Subjugation, power.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=The stories did not seem to me to touch life. […] They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.}}