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Word Study
Amerce
CIDE DICTIONARY
Amerce, v. t. [OF. amercier, fr. a merci at the mercy of, liable to a punishment. See Mercy.].
- To punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion of the court; as, the court amerced the criminal in the sum of one hundred dollars. [1913 Webster]" The penalty or fine may be expressed without a preposition, or it may be introduced by in, with, or of." [1913 Webster]
- To punish, in general; to mulct. [1913 Webster]"Millions of spirits for his fault amerced
Of Heaven." [1913 Webster]"Shall by him be amerced with penance due." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Amerce, v.tr.
1 Law punish by fine.
2 punish arbitrarily.
1 Law punish by fine.
2 punish arbitrarily.
Derivative
amercement n. amerciable adj.
Etymology
ME amercy f. AF amercier f. a at + merci MERCY
ROGET THESAURUS
Amerce
Penalty
VB fine, mulct, amerce, sconce, confiscate, sequestrate, sequester, escheat, estreat, forfeit.Also see definition of "Amerce" in Bible Study Dictionaries
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