wer·geld (wûr g ld ) also wer·gild or were·gild (-g ld)n. In Anglo-Saxon and Germanic law, a price set upon a person's life on the basis of rank and paid as compensation by the family of a slayer to the kindred or lord of a slain person to free the culprit of further punishment or obligation and to prevent a blood feud. [Middle English wargeld, from Old English wergeld : wer, man; see w  -ro- in Indo-European roots + geld, payment.] |
wergild, weregild [ˈwɜːˌgɪld ˈwɛə-], wergeld [ˈwɜːˌgɛld ˈwɛə-]
n
(Law) (Historical Terms) the price set on a man's life in successive Anglo-Saxon and Germanic law codes, to be paid as compensation by his slayer
[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]
weregild, wergild
(in Anglo-Saxon society) a payment made to the family of a slain man by his killer or the killer’s family as compensation, atonement, and to avoid reprisals.
See also: Dues and PaymentHow to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
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