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Webster 1913 Edition

Amerce

A-merce′

(ȧ-mẽrs′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Amerced
(ȧ-mẽrst′)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Amercing
.]
[OF.
amercier
, fr.
a merci
at the mercy of, liable to a punishment. See
Mercy
.]
1.
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
.
☞ The penalty or fine may be expressed without a preposition, or it may be introduced by in, with, or of.
2.
To punish, in general; to mulct.
Millions of spirits for his fault
amerced

Of Heaven.
Milton.
Shall by him be
amerced
with penance due.
Spenser.

Webster 1828 Edition

Amerce

AMERCE

,
Verb.
T.
amers'. [A verb formed from a for on or at, from L. merces, reward.]
1.
To inflict a penalty at mercy; to punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion or mercy of the court; as, the court amerced the criminal in the sum of one hundred dollars.
2.
To inflict a pecuniary penalty; to punish in general. Milton uses of after amerce; 'Millions of spirits amerced of heaven;' but this use seems to be a poetic license.

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