Wordiyomerx
LatinVariants
Related Roots
About This Root
From Latin merx, mercis (goods, wares). The root of commerce (trading together), merchant (one who trades), merchandise (goods for sale), and mercenary (working for pay). Through Old French, it also gave mercy and merciful — originally meaning 'the price of releasing a captive,' then generalized to compassion.
Associated Words
commerce
The large-scale buying and selling of goods; trade
commercial
Related to trade and business; a broadcast advertisement
commercials
Advertisements broadcast on radio or television
mercenary
A soldier hired for money; motivated by personal gain
merchandise
Goods offered for sale; to trade or promote products
merchant
A person who buys and sells goods for profit
merciful
Showing kindness and compassion toward others
merciless
Showing no mercy; cruel and pitiless
mercy
Compassion and forgiveness shown toward others