wergild
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈwɜrˌɡɪld/
- Archaic
- In early Germanic societies, the concept of wergild allowed families to receive compensation for a death instead of seeking revenge.
Examples
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In ancient times, a wergild was often paid to settle disputes.
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The family received a wergild after their loss.
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In ancient times, a wergild was paid to the victim's family to avoid further bloodshed.
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The amount of wergild depended on the social status of the person harmed.
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Historians study the concept of wergild to understand early legal systems in Europe.
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The wergild for a nobleman in Viking culture was often significantly higher than for a common farmer, reflecting his social status.
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To settle the conflict peacefully, the two clans agreed on a wergild payment to compensate the victim's family.
Synonyms
240
3.6
Money given to pay someone for work and to make up for loss or injury
17
8.4
Money a defeated country pays another for war damage
8
7.7
Money given to make up for loss, harm, or effort
1
9.9
A fine paid for causing injury or killing someone
How Much
Surface Forms
Morphology
wergild = wer + gild
Although historically analyzable as wer (man) + gild (payment), these morphemes are archaic/rare in modern English and the legal sense is specialized, so learners cannot reliably derive the meaning from the parts.
Etymology
Wergild comes from old words wer- 'man' and -gild 'payment'. Think of the were in werewolf, which also means 'man', to help you remember. It was money paid to a person's family after death or injury to stop revenge, so the word means a payment to make things right.