A‐merce″ (ȧ‐mẽrs″), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Amerced (ȧ‐mẽrst″); 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.
☞ The penalty or 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.