sister of mercy

1 definition found

sister of mercy - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Sister \Sis"ter\, n. [OE. sister, fr. Icel. systir; also suster,
     from AS. sweostor, sweoster, swuster, akin to OFries.
     sweester, suster, LG. s["u]ster, suster, D. zuster, OS. &
     OHG. swestar, G. schwester, Icel. systir, Sw. syster, Dan.
     s["o]ster, Goth. swistar, Lith. ses?, Russ. sestra, Pol.
     siostra, L. soror, Skr. svasr. [root]298. Cf. Cousin.]
     1. A female who has the same parents with another person, or
        who has one of them only. In the latter case, she is more
        definitely called a half sister. The correlative of
        brother.
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              I am the sister of one Claudio.       --Shak.
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     2. A woman who is closely allied to, or assocciated with,
        another person, as in the sdame faith, society, order, or
        community. --James ii. 15.
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     3. One of the same kind, or of the same condition; --
        generally used adjectively; as, sister fruits. --Pope.
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     Sister Block (Naut.), a tackle block having two sheaves,
        one above the other.
  
     Sister hooks, a pair of hooks fitted together, the shank of
        one forming a mousing for the other; -- called also match  hook
        .
  
     Sister of charity, Sister of mercy. (R. C. Ch.) See under
        Charity, and Mercy.
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