mercement

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Either aphetic form of amercement; or borrowed independently from Anglo-Norman merciment, aphetic form of amerciment.

Noun

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mercement (plural mercements)

  1. (obsolete) An amercement, a punishment. [14th–19th c.]
    • c. 1385, William Langland, Piers Plowman, section I:
      Riȝt so is loue a ledere · and þe lawe shapeth / Vpon man for his mysdedes · þe merciment he taxeth.