verb
- imposing a fine or penalty on someone, especially as punishment or a discretionary penalty
Usage: archaic or legal; present participle of 'amerce'
Examples
- The court was amercing merchants who violated trade regulations.
- Medieval lords were known for amercing their subjects without clear justification.
- The judge considered amercing the defendant for contempt of court.
- Amercing citizens arbitrarily was a common abuse of feudal power.
- The statute prohibited amercing anyone without due process.