amerce

Verb

WordNet 3.0

Verb (2)

  1. punish with an arbitrary penalty
  2. punish by a fine imposed arbitrarily by the discretion of the court
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Amerce \A*merce"\ ([.a]*m[~e]rs"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amerced ([.a]*m[~e]rst"); p. pr. & vb. n. Amercing.] [OF. amercier, fr. a merci at the mercy of, liable to a punishment. See Mercy.]

1.To punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion of the court; as, the court amerced the criminal in the sum of one hundred dollars. [1913 Webster]

Note: The penalty or fine may be expressed without a preposition, or it may be introduced by in, with, or of. [1913 Webster]

2.To punish, in general; to mulct. [1913 Webster]

Millions of spirits for his fault amerced Of Heaven.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
Shall by him be amerced with penance due.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]
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