| Amercement (n.) 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.] Thesaurus Entries amends, amercement, atonement, blood money, compensation, consideration, distraint, distress, escheat, escheatment, fine, forfeit, forfeiture, guerdon, honorarium, indemnification, indemnity, meed, mulct, price, quittance, recompense, redress, remuneration, reparation, requital, requitement, restitution, retribution, return, reward, salvage, satisfaction, sconce, smart money, solatium, wergild |