A*merce" (#), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amerced (#); 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 amerced the criminal in the sum on the hundred dollars.
⇒ 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.
© Webster 1913.