wergild

American  

[wur-gild, wer-] / ˈwɜr gɪld, ˈwɛr- /

Also wergeld

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.

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wergild British  

/ ˈwɜːˌɡɛld, ˈwɛə-, ˈwɜːˌɡɪld, ˈwɛə- /

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

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Etymology

Origin of wergild

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; see yield

Example Sentences

In the second year Biargey again urged Howard to try for a wergild.

From Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race by Ebbutt, M. I. (Maud Isabel)

Under the Merovingians it was a hierarchy wherein grades were marked by the varied scale of the wergild, a man being worth anything from thirty to six Disruption of the social framework. hundred gold pieces.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 7 "Fox, George" to "France" by Various

According to a document which probably dates from the 10th century, the wergild of an aetheling was fixed at 15,000 thrymsas, or 11,250 shillings.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

AElfwine, the brother of Ecgfrith, was slain on this occasion, but at the intervention of Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, AEthelred agreed to pay a wergild for the Northumbrian prince and so prevented further hostilities.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

This wergild is equal to that of an archbishop and one-half of that of a king.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg