AMERCE

amerce

(verb) punish by a fine imposed arbitrarily by the discretion of the court

amerce

(verb) punish with an arbitrary penalty

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

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.

(transitive) To punish; to make an exaction.

Anagrams

• raceme

Source: Wiktionary


A*merce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amerced; p. pr. & vb. n. Amercing.] Etym: [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 amerced the criminal in the sum on the hundred dollars.

Note: The penalty of 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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