The word "amerce" has its origins in the medieval legal system, where it was used to describe the imposition of fines or other penalties by a court. In ancient legal codes, this form of punishment was often used for minor infractions or violations that did not warrant severe penalties like imprisonment. The term is derived from Old French "amercier," meaning "to fine," which itself comes from the Latin word "merces," meaning "reward" or "wages." While the use of the term "amerce" has declined in modern legal systems, the principle of imposing fines remains a significant part of justice systems around the world. Today, fines are commonly used in various forms, from traffic violations to corporate misconduct, and the concept of amercing individuals has evolved into more formalized procedures in most legal systems.
Word 'amerce' in Other Languages
- amerce in Assamese অসমীয়া
- amerce in Bengali বাংলা
- amerce in Bodo बड़ो
- amerce in Dogri डोगरी
- amerce in English
- amerce in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
- amerce in Hindi हिन्दी
- amerce in Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ
- amerce in Kashmiri कॉशुर
- amerce in Konkani कोंकणी
- amerce in Maithili মৈথিলী
- amerce in Malayalam മലയാളം
- amerce in Manipuri মৈতৈলোন্
- amerce in Marathi मराठी
- amerce in Nepali नेपाली
- amerce in Oriya ଓଡ଼ିଆ
- amerce in Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
- amerce in Sanskrit संस्कृतम्
- amerce in Santali
- amerce in Sindhi سنڌي
- amerce in Tamil தமிழ்
- amerce in Telugu తెలుగు
- amerce in Urdu اُردُو
Amerce
Part of Speech
Verb
Pronunciation
/əˈmɜːs/
Definitions
- To impose a fine or penalty on someone as a punishment for an offense or wrongdoing.
- To penalize someone by imposing a monetary charge or other penalty.
Usage Examples
- The court decided to amerce the defendant for his actions during the protest.
- If the company fails to comply with the regulations, they may be amerced by the authorities.
Etymology
The word "amerce" comes from Middle English, derived from the Old French term "amercier," meaning "to fine" or "to impose a penalty," which in turn comes from the Latin "ad" (at) and "merces" (reward or wages), referring to a financial penalty imposed as a form of punishment.
Synonyms
- Fine
- Penalize
- Impose a penalty
Antonyms
- Reward
- Compensate
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| French | Amender | /a.mɑ̃.de/ |
| Spanish | Multar | /mulˈtaɾ/ |
| German | Buße auferlegen | /ˈbuːsə ˈaʊfɐˌleːɡən/ |
| Hindi | दंड लगाना (Dand Lagana) | /dʌnd ləˈɡaːnaː/ |
| Chinese | 罚款 (Fákuǎn) | /fɑːˈkwɑːn/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- American English: /əˈmɜːs/
- British English: /əˈmɜːs/
Historical Usage
The term "amerce" dates back to medieval law, where it was used to describe the imposition of fines or penalties by a court. In the past, this was often done in cases where a fixed fine was not applicable, and the penalty would be determined based on the severity of the offense. The practice of amercing individuals was common in feudal societies, especially in England during the Middle Ages.
Cultural Nuances
Amerce, though still used in legal contexts, is a somewhat archaic term that is rarely seen in modern-day legal systems. The concept of imposing fines as a form of punishment is still prevalent, but the term "amerce" itself has largely been replaced by more contemporary legal terminology, such as "fined" or "penalized."