Amerced


to punish by imposing a fine not fixed by statute.
to punish by inflicting any discretionary or arbitrary penalty.
Historical Examples

The person in whose house the conventicle met, was amerced a like sum with the preacher.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part F. David Hume

One found guilty of it could be fined and imprisoned as well as amerced.
Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed. S. A. Reilly

I have been thrust into prison, and amerced in a heavy fine.
Thoughts on African Colonization William Lloyd Garrison

But if servants misbehave themselves, or leave their places, not being regularly discharged, they ought to be amerced or punished.
Everybody’s Business is Nobody’s Business Daniel Defoe

Earls and barons shall be amerced only by their peers, and only in accordance with the seriousness of the offense.
Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed. S. A. Reilly

Such presentments are made by a set of at least twelve men, and the presented person is amerced there and then.
Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed. S. A. Reilly

The fines are so numerous that it almost appears that every person on the estate was amerced from time to time.
A Short History of English Agriculture W. H. R. Curtler

But even in this court it was the law “that none be amerced but by his peers.”
An Essay on the Trial by Jury Lysander Spooner

For a trifling riot in the City (a mere pretext), the mayor and aldermen were amerced in the sum of £6,000.
Old and New London Walter Thornbury

verb (transitive) (obsolete)
(law) to punish by a fine
to punish with any arbitrary penalty
v.

1215, earlier amercy, Anglo-French amercier “to fine,” from merci “mercy, grace” (see mercy). The legal phrase estre a merci “to be at the mercy of” (a tribunal, etc.) was corrupted to estre amercié in an example of how a legalese adverbial phrase can become a verb (cf. abandon). The sense often was “to fine arbitrarily.”

Frans hom ne seit amerciez pour petit forfet. [Magna Charta]

Related: Amercement; amerciable.

Read Also:

  • Amerf.

    amerf. American French

  • America

    . . . Also called the Americas. North and , considered together. Contemporary Examples Just a week ago, Obama took center stage at the U.N. General Assembly and did nothing closely resembling “rooting” for America. Obama’s Strange Trip Nicolle Wallace September 29, 2009 An honorable Congress knows in its bones that the full faith of […]

  • America's cup

    an international yachting trophy, originally offered as the Hundred Guinea Cup in 1851, but renamed for the yacht America, winner of it that year. the yacht race itself, the oldest and most prestigious event in international sailing, now restricted to 12-meter yachts. noun an international yachting trophy, first won by the schooner America in 1851 […]

  • America first committee

    a political pressure group that during 1940–41 urged the U.S. not to oppose fascism in Europe or enter World War II.

  • America firster

    a member or supporter of the America First Committee.


Disclaimer: Amerced definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.