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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
.] 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
Of Heaven.
amerced
Of Heaven.
Milton.
Shall by him be
amerced
with penance due. Spenser.
Webster 1828 Edition
Amerce
AMERCE
,Verb.
T.
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.Definition 2024
amerce
amerce
English
Alternative forms
- amercy
Verb
amerce (third-person singular simple present amerces, present participle amercing, simple past and past participle amerced)
- (transitive) To impose a fine on; to fine.
- 1597, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene I:
- But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine
- That you shall all repent the loss of mine:
- 1803, David Hume, The History of England, Volume 9, J. Wallis (1803), page 10:
- The person, in whose house the conventicle met, was amerced a like sum.
- 2002, Christopher Dyer, Making a Living in the Middle Ages: The People of Britain 850-1520, Yale University Press (2002), ISBN 0300090609, page 180:
- Lords responded to these offences by amercing (fining) them in the manor court, the revenues of which could provide a twentieth, or even a higher proportion of estate income.
- 1597, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene I:
- (transitive) To punish; to make an exaction.
- 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book I, ll. 607-10:
- The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
- (Far other once beheld in bliss), condemn'd
- For ever now to have their lot in pain,
- Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't
- 1821, Byron, Cain, Act III, Scene I:
- Thou know'st thou art naked! Must the time
- Come thou shalt be amerced for sins unknown,
- 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book I, ll. 607-10:
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
to impose a fine on — see fine
to make an exaction — see punish