amerce Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb punish with an arbitrary penalty
  2. verb punish by a fine imposed arbitrarily by the discretion of the court

WordNet

A*merce" transitive verb
Etymology
OF. amercier, fr. a merci at the mercy of, liable to a punishment. See Mercy.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Amerced present participle & verbal noun Amercing
Definitions
  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 amerced the criminal in the sum on the hundred dollars. ✍ The penalty of fine may be expressed without a preposition, or it may be introduced by in, with, or of.
  2. To punish, in general; to mulct.
    Millions of spirits for his fault amerced Of Heaven. Milton.
    Shall by him be amerced with penance due. Spenser.

Webster 1913