amercement

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: a=merce=ment

CIDE DICTIONARY

amercement, n. [OF. amerciment.].

 The infliction of a penalty at the discretion of the court; also, a mulct or penalty thus imposed. It differs from a fine, in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed by statute for an offense; but an amercement is arbitrary. Hence, the act or practice of affeering. [See Affeer.]  Blackstone.  [1913 Webster]
" This word, in old books, is written amerciament."  [1913 Webster]

Amercement royal, a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his office. Jacobs.

ROGET THESAURUS

amercement

Penalty

N penalty, retribution, pain, pains and penalties, weregild, wergild, peine forte et dure, penance, the devil to pay, fine, mulct, amercement, forfeit, forfeiture, escheat, damages, deodand, sequestration, confiscation, premunire, doomage.