1. small wooden shelves or brackets on the underside of hinged choir seats in churches that provide support when the seat is folded up
Usage: architectural; ecclesiastical
2. rooms in monasteries where certain relaxations of monastic rules were permitted
Usage: historical; monastic

Examples

• The medieval cathedral’s choir stalls featured intricately carved misericords.
• Many misericords display amusing scenes of daily life from centuries past.
• The monks would gather in the misericords for less formal meals.
• Art historians study the symbolic meanings found in church misericords.
• The monastery’s misericords provided a space for relaxation from strict rules.
• Craftsmen decorated the misericords with both religious and secular motifs.