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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary amerce \\ə-ˈmərs\\ transitive verb ( amerced ; amerc·ing) ETYMOLOGY Middle English amercien, from Anglo-French amercier, from Old French a merci at (one's) mercy
DATE 15th century
: to punish by a fine whose amount is fixed by the court; broadly : punish • amerce·ment \\-ˈmər-smənt\\ noun• amer·cia·ble \\-ˈmər-sē-ə-bəl, -ˈmər-shə-bəl\\ adjective
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]
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged amerce\əˈmərs, -ə̄s, -əis\ transitive verb( -ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English amercien, from Anglo-French amercier, from Old French a merci at (one's) mercy, from a- (from Latin ad-) + merci mercy — more at mercy : to punish by a pecuniary penalty the amount of which is not fixed by law but is left to the discretion of the court < the court amerced the criminal in the sum of $100 >broadly : punish
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