wergild

[ wur-gild, wer- ]

noun

1. (in Anglo-Saxon England and other Germanic countries)
2. money paid to the relatives of a murder victim in compensation for loss and to prevent a blood feud.
3. the amount of money fixed as compensation for the murder or disablement of a person, computed on the basis of rank.

wergild

/ ˈwɜːˌɡɛld; ˈwɛə-; ˈwɜːˌɡɪld; ˈwɛə- /

noun

1. the price set on a man's life in successive Anglo-Saxon and Germanic law codes, to be paid as compensation by his slayer

Word History and Origins

Origin of wergild¹

1175–1225; Middle English ( Scots ) weregylt, Old English wer ( e ) gild, equivalent to wer man (cognate with Gothic wair, Latin vir ) + gild geld ²; cognate with Middle Dutch weergelt, Old High German wergelt; yield

Word History and Origins

Origin of wergild¹

Old English wergeld, from wer man (related to Old Norse ver, Latin vir ) + gield tribute (related to Gothic gild, Old High German gelt payment); see yield

Example Sentences

Then the troll begged for his life and said: "Dear Silverwhite, I will take wergild for my brothers, only bid your dogs be still, so that we may talk."

From Project Gutenberg

Then the troll humbly begged for his life, and said: "Dear Lillwacker, I will give you wergild for your brother, only bid your dogs be still, so that we may talk."

From Project Gutenberg

When the troll saw that his attempt had failed, he was much alarmed and said: "Dearest Lillwacker, I will give you wergild for your brother, if you will only leave me alone."

From Project Gutenberg

Under the Merovingians it was a hierarchy wherein grades were marked by the varied scale of the wergild, a man being worth anything from thirty to six Disruption of the social framework. hundred gold pieces.

From Project Gutenberg

The ceorl who had thriven so well as to have five hides of land rose to the rank of a thegn; his wergild became 1200 shillings; the value of his oath and the penalty of trespass against him increased in proportion; his descendants in the third generation became gesithcund.

From Project Gutenberg