English-Thai Dictionary
amercement
N การ ทำโทษ kan-tam-tod
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
AMERCEMENT
n.amers'ment. A pecuniary penalty inflicted on an offender at the discretion of the court. It differs from a fine, in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed by statute for an offense; but an amercement is arbitrary. Hence the practice of affeering. [See Affeer. ] But in America, the word fine is now used for a pecuniary penalty which is uncertain; and it is common in statutes, to enact that an offender shall be fined, at the discretion of the court. In England also, fines are now usually discretionary. Thus the word fine has, in a measure, superseded the use of amercement. This word, in old books, is written amerciament. Amercement royal is a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his office.
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
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.
New American Oxford Dictionary
amercement
a merce ment |əˈmərsmənt əˈmərsmənt | ▶noun English Law, historical a fine. DERIVATIVES a merce verb ORIGIN late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French amerciment, based on estre amercie ‘be at the mercy of another ’ (with respect to the amount of a fine ), from a merci ‘at (the ) mercy. ’
Oxford Dictionary
amercement
amercement |əˈməːsmənt | ▶noun English Law, historical a fine. DERIVATIVES amerce verb ORIGIN late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French amerciment, based on estre amercie ‘be at the mercy of another ’ (with respect to the amount of a fine ), from a merci ‘at (the ) mercy ’.
The Wordsmith Dictionary