AMERCE, v.t. amers'. [A verb formed from a for on or at, from L. merces, reward.] 1. To inflict a penalty at mercy; to punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion or mercy of the court; as, the court amerced the criminal in the sum of one hundred dollars.2. To inflict a pecuniary penalty; to punish in general. Milton uses of after amerce; "Millions of spirits amerced of heaven;" but this use seems to be a poetic license.
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