wergild

[ wur-gild, wer- ]

noun

1. (in Anglo-Saxon England and other Germanic countries)
2. money paid to the relatives of a murder victim in compensation for loss and to prevent a blood feud.
3. the amount of money fixed as compensation for the murder or disablement of a person, computed on the basis of rank.

wergild

/ ˈwɜːˌɡɪld; ˈwɛə-; ˈwɛə-; ˈwɜːˌɡɛld /

noun

1. the price set on a man's life in successive Anglo-Saxon and Germanic law codes, to be paid as compensation by his slayer

Word History and Origins

Origin of wergild¹

1175–1225; Middle English ( Scots ) weregylt, Old English wer ( e ) gild, equivalent to wer man (cognate with Gothic wair, Latin vir ) + gild geld ²; cognate with Middle Dutch weergelt, Old High German wergelt; yield

Word History and Origins

Origin of wergild¹

Old English wergeld, from wer man (related to Old Norse ver, Latin vir ) + gield tribute (related to Gothic gild, Old High German gelt payment); see yield

Example Sentences

Within the ceorlisc class we find similar subdivisions, though they were not marked by a difference in wergild.

From Project Gutenberg

This step is taken when the State compels the parties to enter into an agreement on the basis of the wergild.

From Project Gutenberg

With the institution of wergild the entire matter becomes one of civil law.

From Project Gutenberg

He is thus far a person that he has a small wergild but possibly he is bound to the soil.

From Project Gutenberg

We may have thegns who are nobodys thegns, or else we may have persons entitled to the thegnly wergild who yet are not thegns.

From Project Gutenberg