Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To punish by fine or other penalty.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To punish by an arbitrary or discretionary fine: as, the court amerced the defendant in the sum of $100.
  • To punish by inflicting a penalty of any kind, as by depriving of some right or privilege, or entailing some loss upon.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion of the court.
  • transitive verb To punish, in general; to mulct.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To impose a fine on; to fine.
  • verb transitive To punish; to make an exaction.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb punish with an arbitrary penalty
  • verb punish by a fine imposed arbitrarily by the discretion of the court

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[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).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Anglo-Norman amercier, from Old French à ("at") + merci ("mercy"), thus “at the mercy of”; merci from Latin mercedem ("remuneration, favour, mercy").

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Examples

  • Whether you relate to the youth on the quest of nobility, the rogue along for the ride, or the princess risking everything for those she loves, you can amerce your self in it.

    VIEWPOINT: What makes sci-fi work? 2008

  • And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.

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  • And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.

    Probably Just One Of Those Funny Coincidences 2006

  • The court, therefore, doth condemn and amerce him in three porringers of curds, well cemented and closed together, shining like pearls, and codpieced after the fashion of the country, to be paid unto the said defendant about the middle of August in May.

    Five books of the lives, heroic deeds and sayings of Gargantua and his son Pantagruel 2002

  • The court, therefore, doth condemn and amerce him in three porringers of curds, well cemented and closed together, shining like pearls, and codpieced after the fashion of the country, to be paid unto the said defendant about the middle of August in May.

    Five books of the lives, heroic deeds and sayings of Gargantua and his son Pantagruel 2002

  • And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him; and they shall amerce him in a hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.

    Deuteronomy 22. 1999

  • "They shall amerce him in one hundred shekels," and in 2 Chron. xxxvi.

    The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 1 of 4 American Anti-Slavery Society

  • "They shall amerce him in one hundred shekels," and in 2 Chron. xxxvi.

    The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus American Anti-Slavery Society

  • "They shall _amerce_ him in one hundred shekels," and in 2 Chron. xxxvi.

    The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus American Anti-Slavery Society

  • "They shall _amerce_ him in one hundred shekels," and in 2 Chron. xxxvi.

    The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 1 of 4 American Anti-Slavery Society

Comments

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  • 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) + merci, mercy (from Latin mercs, wages).

    how mercenary!

    June 28, 2007

  • Let Anah, the son of Zibion, lead a Mule to the temple, and bless God, who amerces the consolation of the creature for the service of Man. (from Jubilate Agno by Christopher Smart)

    December 31, 2007