amerce

Verb

amerce (third-person singular simple present amerces, present participle amercing, simple past and past participle amerced)

1. (transitive) To impose a fine on; to fine.
   • But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine
     That you shall all repent the loss of mine:c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
   • The person, in whose house the conventicle met, was amerced a like sum.1754–1762, David Hume, [The History of England ], volume (please specify |volume=1 to 6), London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], page 10
2. (transitive) To punish; to make an exaction.
   • The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
     (Far other once beheld in bliss), condemn'd
     For ever now to have their lot in pain,
     Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't1667, John Milton, “Book XXI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...
   • Thou know'st thou art naked! Must the time
     Come thou shalt be amerced for sins unknown,1821, Lord Byron, Cain, act III, scene I

   Synonyms:

   castigate, penalize, chasten, chastise, come down on, correct, fix someone's wagon, have someone's guts for garters, have someone's head, have someone's hide