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Webster 1913 Edition

Weregild

Were′gildˊ

,
Noun.
[AS.
wergild
;
wer
a man, value set on a man’s life +
gild
payment of money; akin to G.
wehrgeld
. √285. See
Were
a man, and
Geld
,
Noun.
]
(O. Eng. Law)
The price of a man's head; a compensation paid of a man killed, partly to the king for the loss of a subject, partly to the lord of a vassal, and partly to the next of kin. It was paid by the murderer.
[Written also
weregeld
,
weregelt
, etc.]
Blackstone.

Webster 1828 Edition

Weregild

WEREGILD

,
Noun.
Formerly, the price of a mans head; a compensation paid for a man killed, partly to the king for the loss of a subject, and partly tot he lord of the vassal, and partly to the next of kin. It was paid by the murderer.

Definition 2024

weregild

weregild

English

Noun

weregild ‎(plural weregilds)

  1. Alternative spelling of wergeld
    • 1954, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book II, Chapter 11
      "This I will have as weregild for my father, and my brother," he said; and therefore whether we would or no, he took it to treasure it. But soon he was betrayed by it to his death; and so it is named in the North Isildur's Bane.

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