What is "amercing"

Amerce \A*merce"\ ([.a]*m[~e]rs"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amerced ([.a]*m[~e]rst"); 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.

   Note: The penalty or fine may be expressed without a preposition, or it may be introduced by in, with, or of.

2. To punish, in general; to mulct.

   Millions of spirits for his fault amerced Of Heaven.
   --Milton.

   Shall by him be amerced with penance due.
   --Spenser.

vb. (present participle of amerce English)