Amerce
to punish by imposing a fine not fixed by statute.
to punish by inflicting any discretionary or arbitrary penalty.
Historical Examples
But perhaps I could pay you a mina of silver: in that sum, then, I amerce myself.
Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates Plato
In your greatness ye shall change it; with your justice ye shall purify it; with your clemencies ye should it chasten and amerce.
Privy Seal Ford Madox Ford
Nay, but they will hold thee to ransom, and detain thee till it is brought: I heard them amerce thee at a thousand marks.
The House of Walderne A. D. Crake
I amerce myself, then, to you in that sum; and they will be sufficient sureties for the money.
Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates Plato
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.
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