amerce

American  

[uh-murs] / əˈmɜrs /

verb (used with object)

amerced, amercing

1. to punish by imposing a fine not fixed by statute.

2. to punish by inflicting any discretionary or arbitrary penalty.

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amerce British  

/ əˈmɜːs /

verb

1. law to punish by a fine

2. to punish with any arbitrary penalty

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Other Word Forms

• amerceable adjective
• amercement noun
• amercer noun
• unamerceable adjective
• unamerced adjective

Etymology

Origin of amerce

1250–1300; Middle English amercy < Anglo-French amerci ( er ) to fine, representing ( estre ) a merci (to be) at (someone's) mercy. See a- ⁵, mercy

Explanation

To amerce is to impose a fine on someone as punishment. During the Middle Ages, the King might amerce you if you trespassed on his land to retrieve a lost ball. The word amerce was more common in medieval times, although it's still used in a legal context, along with amercement. Today when a court amerces someone, it legally orders them to pay a fine after finding them guilty of wrongdoing. The word comes from the French a merci, or "at the mercy," referring to the fact that a person facing amercement is at the mercy of the court.

Example Sentences

But ile amerce you with so strong a fine, That you shall all repent the losse of mine.

From Shakespeare in the Theatre by Poel, William

In your greatness ye shall change it; with your justice ye shall purify it; with your clemencies ye should it chasten and amerce.

From Privy Seal His Last Venture by Ford, Ford Madox

The words achieve, agree, amerce, amount, acquit, acquaint, avow, &c. show the same prefix, derived through the medium of Old French.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Worst of all was Davie Graham, for having his hands upon the fines, he desired above all to amerce Gilbert Wilson, the tenant of Glen Vernock in the parish of Peninghame.

From The Men of the Moss-Hags Being a history of adventure taken from the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Galloway by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)

I amerce myself, then, to you in that sum; and they will be sufficient sureties for the money.

From Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates by Cary, Henry