Millions of spirits for his fault amerced
Of Heaven.
Milton.
Shall by him be amerced with penance due.
Spenser.
A*merce"a*ble (&?;), a. Liable to be amerced.
A*merce"ment (&?;), n. [OF. amerciment.] 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 statute for an offense; but an amercement is arbitrary. Hence, the act or practice of affeering. [See Affeer.] Blackstone.
This word, in old books, is written amerciament.
Amercement royal, a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his office. Jacobs.
A*mer"cer (&?;), n. One who amerces.
A*mer"cia*ment (&?;), n. [LL. amerciamentum.] Same as Amercement. Mozley & W.
A*mer"i*can (*mr"*kan), a. [Named from Americus Vespucius.] 1. Of or pertaining to America; as, the American continent: American Indians.
2. Of or pertaining to the United States. "A young officer of the American navy." Lyell.
American ivy. See Virginia creeper. -- American Party (U. S. Politics), a party, about 1854, which opposed the influence of foreign-born citizens, and those supposed to owe allegiance to a foreign power. -- Native american Party (U. S. Politics), a party of principles similar to those of the American party. It arose about 1843, but soon died out.
A*mer"i*can (*mr"*kan), n. A native of America; -- originally applied to the aboriginal inhabitants, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America, and especially to the citizens of the United States.
The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism.
Washington.
A*mer"i*can*ism (&?;), n. 1. Attachment to the United States.
2. A custom peculiar to the United States or to America; an American characteristic or idea.