'mercifully' originates from the Old French word 'merciful', which in turn comes from the Latin word 'misericordia', where 'miseri-' meant 'pity' and 'cordia' meant 'heart'.

'merciful' changed from the Old French word 'merciful' and eventually became the modern English word 'mercifully'.

Initially, it meant 'full of mercy or compassion', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.