• (a.) Unwilling to give pain; compassionate. • (a.) Full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish. Found on http://thinkexist.com/dictionary/meaning/merciful/
Mer'ci·ful adjective [ Mercy + - ful .] 1. Full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish. « The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious.» Ex. xxxiv. 6. « Be merciful , great duke, ... Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/M/49