Shall by him be amerced with penance due. Spenser. AÏmerce¶aÏble (?), a. Liable to be amerced. AÏmerce¶ment (?), n. [OF. amerciment.] The infliction of a penalty at the discretion of the court; also, a mulct or penalty thus imposed. It differs from a fine,in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed by statue for an offense; but an amercement is arbitrary. Hence, the act or practice of affeering. [See Affeer.] Blackstone. µ This word, in old books, is written amerciament. ÷ royal, a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his office. Jacobs. AÏmer¶cer (?), n. One who amerces. AÏmer¶ciaÏment (?), n. [LL. amerciamentum.] Same as Amercement. Mozley & W. AÏmer¶iÏcan (?), a. [Named from Ameri?us Vespucius.] 1. Of or pertaining to America; as, the American continent: American Indians. 2. Of or pertaining to the United States. ½A young officer of the American navy.¸ Lyell. ÷ ivy. See Virginia creeper. Ð ÷ Party (U. S. Politics), a party, about 1854, which opposed the influence of foreignÐborn citizens, and those supposed to owe allegiance to a foreign power. Ð Native ~ Party (U. S. Politics), a party of principles similar to those of the ÷ party. It arose about 1843, but soon died out. AÏmer¶iÏcan (?), n. A native of America; Ð originally applied to the aboriginal inhabitants, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America, and especially to the citizens of the United States. The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism. Washington. AÏmer¶iÏcanÏism (?), n. 1. Attachment to the United States. 2. A custom peculiar to the United States or to America; an American characteristic or idea. 3. A word or phrase peculiar to the United States. AÏmer·iÏcanÏiÏza¶tion (?), n. The process of Americanizing. AÏmer¶iÏcanÏize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Americanizer (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Americanizing.] To render American; to assimilate to the Americans in customs, ideas, etc.; to stamp with American characteristics. Ames¶Ðace (?), n. Same as AmbsÐace. Am¶ess (?), n. (Eccl.) Amice, a hood or cape. See 2d Amice. Ø Am·eÏtab¶oÏla (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zo”l.) A group of insects which do not undergo any metamorphosis. [Written also Ametabolia.] AÏmet·aÏbo¶liÏan (?), a. [Gr. ? unchangeable; ? priv. + ? changeable, ? to change.] (Zo”l.) Of or pertaining to insects that do undergo any metamorphosis. { AÏme·aÏbol¶ic (?), Am·eÏtab¶oÏlous, } a. (Zo”l.) Not undergoing any metamorphosis; as, ametabolic insects. AÏmeth¶oÏdist (?), n. [Pref. aÏ not + methodist.] One without method; a quack. [Obs.] Am¶eÏthyst (?), [F. ametiste, amatiste, F. am‚thyste, L. amethystus, fr. Gr. ? without drunkenness; as a noun, a remedy for drunkenness, the amethyst, supposed to have this power; ? priv. + ? to be drunken, ? strong drink, wine. See Mead.] 1. (Min.) A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used as a jeweler's stone. Oriental ~, the violetÐblue variety of transparent crystallized corundum or sapphire. 2. (Her.) A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat of arms. Am·eÏthys¶tine (?), a. [L. amethystinus, Gr. ?.] 1. Resembling amethyst, especially in color; bluish violet. 2. Composed of, or containing, amethyst. Ø Am·eÏtro¶piÏa (?), n. [Gr. ? irregular + ?, ?, eye.] (Med.) Any abnormal condition of the refracting powers of the eye. Ð Am·eÏtrop¶ic (?), a. AmÏhar¶ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Amhara, a division of Abyssinia; as, the Amharic language is closely allied to the Ethiopic. Ð n. The Amharic language (now the chief language of Abyssinia). Ø Am¶iÏa (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. ? a kind of tunny.] (Zo”l.) A genus of freshÐwater ganoid fishes, exclusively confined to North America; called bowfin in Lake Champlain, dogfish in Lake Erie, and mudfish in South Carolina, etc. See Bowfin. A·miÏaÏbil¶iÏty (?), n. The quality of being amiable; amiableness; sweetness of disposition. Every excellency is a degree of amiability. Jer. Taylor. A¶miÏaÏble (?), a. [F. amiable, L. amicabilis friendly, fr. amicus friend, fr. amare to love. The meaning has been influenced by F. aimable, L. amabilis lovable, fr. amare to love. Cf. Amicable, Amorous, Amability.] 1. Lovable; lovely; pleasing. [Obs. or R.] So amiable a prospect. Sir T. Herbert. 2. Friendly; kindly; sweet; gracious; as, an amiable temper or mood; amiable ideas. 3. Possessing sweetness of disposition; having sweetness of temper, kindÐheartedness, etc., which causes one to be liked; as, an amiable woman. 4. Done out of love. [Obs.] Lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife. Shak. A·miÏaÏbleÏness, n. The quality of being amiable; amiability. A¶miÏaÏbly, adv. In an amiable manner. Am¶iÏanth (?), n. See Amianthus. [Poetic] Am·iÏan¶thiÏform (?), a.