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.

---

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

---

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

Each man's life had a certain "wergild" or money value.

From The Leading Facts of English History by Montgomery, D. H. (David Henry)

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

Then the troll begged for his life and said: "Dear Silverwhite, I will take wergild for my brothers, only bid your dogs be still, so that we may talk."

From The Swedish Fairy Book by Various

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

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