† God-a-ˈmercy, int. Obs.
Also 6 godamarsey, gathamercy, 7 god-a-massy.
[= God have mercy (sometimes so written; see 2, quot. a 1617), used in the sense ‘God reward you’ (see mercy), and hence as a mere expression of thanks.]
1. Used as an exclamation of applause or thanks. Const. of.
(In the latest examples app. used as a mere exclamation.)
| a 1440 Sir Eglam. 96 ‘Nay, syr..Ye are a nobylle knyght..God a mercy, syr!’ seyde hee. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 619 God a mercy, symont, þat þou wylt me knowe. c 1520 King & Barker 116 in Hazlitt E.P.P. 9 Godamarsey, sayd our kyng, of they serueyse to daye. 1568 Like Will to Like A iv, By masse god a marsy my vreend nickol. 1631 Chettle Trag. Hoffman D 3 b, Well god-a-mercy friend, thou got'st me grace: But more of that at leasure. 1658 Ford, etc. Witch Edmonton i. ii, Warb. Wilt be angry, Wasp? O. Cart. God-a-mercy, Sue, She'll firk him on my life, if he [etc.]. 1790 By-stander 213 God a mercy..what a happy thing for old Corin. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth v, Nay, God-a-mercy, wench, it were hard to deny thee time to busk thy body-clothes. |
| Prov. phr. 1597 J. Payne Royal Exch. 5 As the hostes reckonyng with her gest less willinge to lodge in her hows, then his tyred horse, made low curtesy..to the beaste, and seyd gathamercy horse. 1710 Brit. Apollo III. No. 118. 3/1, I find I'm whole, God a Mercy Horse. |
b. ironically;
= ‘Many thanks (to).’
| 1598 T. Bastard Chrest. (1880) 26 But our Eliza liues, and keepes her crown, Godamercy Pope, for he would pull her downe. 1603 Florio Montaigne iii. ix. (1632) 547 Theeves and stealers (godamersie their kindnesse) have in particular nothing to say to me. |
2. quasi-n. An expression of thanks, a ‘thank-you’.
worth god-a-mercy, worth giving thanks for, of some value or importance (similarly
not worth g.).
no god-a-mercy, no special merit.
| 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 103/2 As it is trulie said of Tullie: out of Asia (saith he to liue a good life, is no god⁓amercie; but in Asia..that is praise woorthie. 1600 Holland Livy xxix. iv. (1609) 712 He would be readie to assist him with such a power of foote and horse as were worth god amercy [L. haud contemnendis]. a 1617 Bayne On Eph. (1643) 130 For to choose one out of grace to have this or that hee shall well pay for, is grace not worth God have mercy. 1626 Meade in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. iii. No. 328 If we stayed to expect the event in Parliament, it would not be worth God-ha-mercy. 1655 Bramhall Def. True Lib. 103 All this is most true, of a just Law justly executed. But this is no god-a-mercy to T. H. [i.e. Thomas Hobbes] his opinion of absolute necessity. 1692 [see gob n.1 2]. |