verb (used with object), a·merced, a·merc·ing.
1.
to punish by imposing a fine not fixed by statute.
2.
to punish by inflicting any discretionary or arbitrary penalty.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To amerce
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Amerce
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
amerce (əˈmɜːs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | law to punish by a fine |
| 2. | to punish with any arbitrary penalty |
| [C14: from Anglo-French amercier, from Old French à merci at the mercy (because the fine was arbitrarily fixed); see | |
| a'merceable | |
| —adj | |
| a'mercement | |
| —n | |
| a'mercer | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
amerce
1215, earlier amercy, Anglo-Fr. 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 adv. phrase can become a verb (cf.
abandon). The sense often was "to fine arbitrarily."
"Frans hom ne seit amerciez pour petit forfet." [Magna Charta]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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