*amerce*

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Amerced p. pr. & vb. n. Amercing. ] [ OF. amercier, fr. a merci at the mercy of, liable to a punishment. See Mercy. ] 1. To punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion of the court; as, the court amerced the criminal in the sum of one hundred dollars. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The penalty or fine may be expressed without a preposition, or it may be introduced by in, with, or of. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To punish, in general; to mulct. [ 1913 Webster ]

Millions of spirits for his fault amerced
Of Heaven. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shall by him be amerced with penance due. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]