əˈmərs, -ə̄s, -əis transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English amercien, from Anglo-French amercier, from Old French a merci at (one's) mercy, from a- (from Latin ad- ) + merci mercy — more at mercy
: to punish by a pecuniary penalty the amount of which is not fixed by law but is left to the discretion of the court
the court amerced the criminal in the sum of $100
broadly : punish