amerce

[ uh-murs ]
/ əˈmɜrs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR amerce ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), a·merced, a·merc·ing.

to punish by imposing a fine not fixed by statute.
to punish by inflicting any discretionary or arbitrary penalty.

Origin of amerce

1250–1300; Middle English amercy < Anglo-French amerci(er) to fine, representing ( estre) a merci (to be) at (someone's) mercy. See a-5, mercy

OTHER WORDS FROM amerce

Words nearby amerce

amentaceous, amentia, amentiferous, amer., amerasian, amerce, america, america first committee, america firster, america's cup, american

Words related to amercement

penalty, forfeiture, mulct, punishment, damages

Example sentences from the Web for amercement

  • Sullivan says that both plaintiffs and defendants were liable to amercement.

    An Essay on the Trial by Jury |Lysander Spooner

  • If any one happen to fall into my amercement he may be reasonably fined by my bailiff and the faithful burgesses of the court.

    Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed. |S. A. Reilly

British Dictionary definitions for amercement

amerce
/ (əˈmɜːs) /

verb (tr) obsolete

law to punish by a fine
to punish with any arbitrary penalty

Derived forms of amerce

amerceable, adjective amercement, noun amercer, noun

Word Origin for amerce

C14: from Anglo-French amercier, from Old French à merci at the mercy (because the fine was arbitrarily fixed); see mercy