From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
From Middle Low German (sik) vorbarmen (“to care about the poor”), a derivation from Middle Low German arm (“poor”), see Danish arm. Cognates include Swedish förbarma and German erbarmen
forbarme (past tense forbarmede, past participle forbarmet)
- (reflexive, transitively with over) to take pity (on someone) (and help them)
- Synonym: miskunde
- (interjection, archaic) used as an exclamation to express surprise, astonishment, concern, or other emotions.
Du forbarmende! (adjective). Hvad skal et stakkels menneske som jeg dog gøre?- God have mercy! (interjection). What is a poor person like me supposed to do?
