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.
Note: 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.
AMERCEABLE
A*merce"a*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to be amerced.
AMERCEMENT
A*merce"ment, n. Etym: [OF. amerciment.]
Defn: The infliction of a penalty at the discretion of the court; also, a mulct or penalty thus imposed. It differs from a fine,in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed by statue for an offense; but an amercement is arbitrary. Hence, the act or practice of affeering. [See Affeer.] Blackstone.
Note: This word, in old books, is written amerciament. Amercement royal, a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his office. Jacobs.
AMERCER
A*mer"cer, n.
Defn: One who amerces.