amerce
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
from Anglo-Norman amercier, from Old French à + merci (at the mercy of) (English mercy), from Latin mercedem (“remuneration, favour, mercy”).
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /əˈmɜːs/
[edit] Alternative forms
[edit] Verb
amerce (third-person singular simple present amerces, present participle amercing, simple past and past participle amerced)
- (transitive) To impose a fine on; to fine.
- But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine, that you shall all repent the loss of mine - Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet"
- 1806: The person, in whose house the conventicle met, was amerced a like sum. — Hume, History of England
- (transitive) To punish, to make an exaction.
- 1667: condemn'd / For ever now to have thir lot in pain, / Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't / Of Heav'n — John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 1, ll. 607-10
- Thou shalt be amerced for sins unknown. - Byron, "Cain"
