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.

  1. the amount of money fixed as compensation for the murder or disablement of a person, computed on the basis of rank.

Origin of wergild

1
1175–1225; Middle English (Scots ) weregylt,Old English wer(e)gild, equivalent to wer man (cognate with Gothic wair,Latin vir) + gildgeld2; cognate with Middle Dutch weergelt,Old High German wergelt;see yield
  • Also wer·geld [wur-geld, wer-], /ˈwɜr gɛld, ˈwɛr-/, weregild.

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British Dictionary definitions for wergild

wergild

weregild wergeld (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

Origin of wergild

1
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

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