Origin: Germanic Old English suffix
Mercifulness has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
the feeling that motivates compassion
a disposition to be kind and forgiving
"in those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband"
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
"he threw himself on the mercy of the court"
The state of being merciful; mercy.