wergild
[ wur-gild, wer- ]
/ ˈwɜr gɪld, ˈwɛr- /
noun
(in Anglo-Saxon England and other Germanic countries)
money paid to the relatives of a murder victim in compensation for loss and to prevent a blood feud.
the amount of money fixed as compensation for the murder or disablement of a person, computed on the basis of rank.
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earnest
Also wer·geld [wur-geld, wer-] /ˈwɜr gɛld, ˈwɛr-/, were·gild.
Words nearby wergild
weren't, werewolf, werewolves, werfel, wergeland, wergild, werlhof's disease, werner, werner's syndrome, wernerian, wernerite
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for weregild
It seemed as if the old practice of the weregild (see p. 32) had been unexpectedly revived.
A Student's History of England, v. 1 (of 3)|Samuel R. Gardiner.I knew that no weregild, as the Saxon calls it, would be enough to save me from the Cornishman.
A Prince of Cornwall|Charles W. Whistler
British Dictionary definitions for weregild
wergild
weregild wergeld (ˈwɜːˌɡɛld, ˈwɛə-)
/ (ˈwɜːˌɡɪld, ˈwɛə-) /
noun
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 Origin for wergild
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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