Found 2 items, similar to amerce.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: amerce amerce v 1: punish with an arbitrary penalty 2: punish by a fine imposed arbitrarily by the discretion of the court
English → English (gcide) Definition: Amerce 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]