amerce
verbUS /əˈmɝs/ · UK /əˈmɜːs/
Etymology From Anglo-Norman amercier, from Old French a (“at”) + merci (“mercy”), thus “at the mercy of”.
1
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:c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
- The person, in whose house the conventicle met, was amerced a like sum.1754–1762, David Hume, [The History of England ], volume (please specify |volume=1 to 6), London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], page 10:
1 more example
- Lords responded to these offences by amercing (fining) them in the manor court, the revenues of which could provide a twentieth, or even a higher proportion of estate income.2002, Christopher Dyer, Making a Living in the Middle Ages: The People of Britain 850-1520, Yale University Press, →ISBN, page 180:
2
To punish; to make an exaction.
- The fellows of his crime, the followers rather (Far other once beheld in bliss), condemn'd For ever now to have their lot in pain, Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't1667, John Milton, “Book XXI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 607-609:
- Thou know'st thou art naked! Must the time Come thou shalt be amerced for sins unknown,1821, Lord Byron, Cain, act III, scene I:
- Derived terms
- amerceable, amercement, amercer, unamerced
- Related terms
- mercy