mer (mèr), n.f., sea, deep, ocean, main; tide, water; jar (frequently replenished). La haute —; main sea; high sea; high water. — basse; shallow sea, low water. Port de —; sea-port. Un coup de —; (nav.) a sea. Homme de —; seafaring man. Loup de —; expert seaman, Jack Tar; old salt. D’outre-—; beyond the seas. En pleine —; on the open sea, on the high seas. Chercher quelqu’un par — et par terre; to look for any one high and low. C’est la — à boire; it is an endless task, an impossibility. Porter de l’eau à la —; to carry coals to Newcastle. La — est belle; the sea is smooth. Tenir la —; to keep at sea. Tenir bien la —; to be a good sea-boat. Jeter, tomber, à la —; to throw, to fall, overboard. Embarquer un coup de —; to ship a sea. Gros coup de —; heavy sea. Mettre à la —; to put to sea. Pouvoir tenir la —; (nav.) to be seaworthy (of a ship). En —; at sea. Prendre la —; to go to sea. Mal de —; seasickness. Il y avait beaucoup or pas mal de —; there was a good sea on. Ecumeur de —; sea-rover. Entouré par la —; sea-girt. Apporté par —; sea-borne.
mercadet, n.m., jobber.
mercantile, adj., mercantile, commercial; (fig.) grasping, sordid.
*mercantille, n.f., (l.u.) petty trading; hucksterage.
mercenaire, adj., mercenary, venal.
mercenaire, n.m., mercenary, hireling.
mercenairement (-nèr-mān), adv., mercenarily.
mercerie, n.f., mercery, haberdashery.
merci, n.f. (n.p.), mercy, discretion, will, pleasure. Crier —; to cry for mercy. Don d’amoureuse —; lady’s favors. Se mettre, or être, à la — de quelqu’un; to be, to place one’s self, at any one’s mercy, discretion.
merci, n.m., thanks; thank you. Dieu —; thank God! Grand —! much obliged! Sa —; (old) thanks to him.