amerce

tr.v., a·merced, a·merc·ing, a·merc·es.

1. Law. To punish by a fine imposed arbitrarily at the discretion of the court.
2. To punish by imposing an arbitrary penalty.

[Middle English amercen, from Anglo-Norman amercier, from à merci, at the mercy of : à, to (from Latin ad; see ad-) + merci, mercy (from Latin mercēs, wages).]

amerceable a·merce'a·ble adj.
amercement a·merce'ment n.

(uh-MURS)

verb tr.
1. To punish by a fine.
2. To punish by imposing a penalty in an arbitrary manner.

Etymology
From Middle English amercy, from Anglo-French amercier (to fine), from Old French a merci (at one's mercy), from Latin merces (wages). Other words derived from the same root are commerce, mercenary, market, merchant, and mercy

Usage
"Uncouth though he was, (Geoffroi) le Brun was at least more sophisticated an operator than some of his neighbours. Most of them simply mulcted, amerced, plundered, ravaged, and otherwise terrified their trembling feudal subordinates. Le Brun, advised by a monk skilled in public relations, proceeded more cautiously. He wrote them long letters explaining why what he did was entirely necessary and in their best interests. Only then did he mulct, amerce, plunder, ravage and otherwise terrify them." — Smallweed; The Guardian (London, UK); Jan 28, 1995.

"But only three in all God's universe Have heard this word thou hast said, -- Himself, beside Thee speaking, and me listening! and replied One of us ... that was God, ... and laid the curse So darkly on my eyelids, as to amerce My sight from seeing thee." — Elizabeth Barrett Browning; Sonnets From the Portuguese; 19th C.

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verb

To impose a fine on: fine, mulct, penalize. See reward/punish/deserve.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: punish with an arbitrary penalty

Meaning #2: punish by a fine imposed arbitrarily by the discretion of the court

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