lifeline vs mercy

lifeline

noun
  • A source of salvation in a crisis. 

  • A particular crease in the palm. 

  • A line from the diver to a tender at the surface control point. 

  • A line to which a drowning or falling victim may cling. 

  • A means or route for transporting indispensable supplies. 

  • System or structure of vital importance to a community. 

  • On the deck of a boat, a line to which one can attach oneself to stay aboard on rough seas. 

mercy

noun
  • A blessing; something to be thankful for. 

  • Instances of forbearance or forgiveness. 

  • Forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate. 

  • Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another. 

  • A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion. 

  • A children's game in which two players stand opposite with hands grasped and twist each other's arms until one gives in. 

intj
  • Expressing surprise or alarm. 

verb
  • To feel mercy 

  • To show mercy; to pardon or treat leniently because of mercy 

How often have the words lifeline and mercy occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )