"Weregeld" Pronounce,Meaning And Examples
"Weregeld" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
"Weregeld" Meaning
Weregeld is a payment made to the family of a slain person in compensation for their loss. It originated in ancient Germanic tribes and was used as a form of blood money to alleviate the grief and financial burden of losing a loved one. The concept of weregeld was based on the idea of compensating the family for the value of the life lost, often calculated based on the social status and values of the individual.
"Weregeld" Examples
Weregeld
Definition
Weregeld was a medieval English institution under which a murderer or manslayer would buy his way out of punishment or atonement with a payment, often either in the form of goods, livestock, or money, depending on his status.Examples
1. Historical Example
- The custom of weregeld was so deeply ingrained in medieval English society that it was well established before the legal codes of Alfred the Great. For example, as per Alfred's Dooms, the wergild for a freeman (or saga-cyning) was set at 145 shillings.
2. Etymological Insight
- The original word "weregeld" seems to have originated from Old English wer-geld, where wer means "man" and geld (or geldian) means "price". Thus, the term literally translates to "the price of a man", referring to the monetary compensation paid to the relatives of a murdered person as a fine or buy-out of a blood feud.
3. Medieval Law Example
- In the context of medieval law, a concept closely related to weregeld was that of "erca", or "bloodprice". This was a specific amount of compensation a lord could claim on behalf of a slain servant living on his land but not owned by him.
4. Cultural Significance
- Weregeld not only facilitated the relatively quick resolution of disputes through the payment of fees but also underscores the complex social stratification of the time, where the value of compensation for life was inversely related to social status.
5. Folkloric Reference
- Weregeld has its roots in Germanic legal customs, which were introduced to England by the Anglo-Saxons. It's a unique aspect of their legal and cultural heritage, reflecting the values of a society striving for balance between justice, social order, and individual rights.
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Weregild refers to a form of payment or compensation, typically in the medieval period, for the unauthorized taking or causing harm to someone's life or property. It was a ransom or fine paid to the victim or their family for a wrong committed, often monetary or material, as opposed to a literal payment for a life. The term is associated with Germanic and Anglo-Saxon law and custom, particularly in Old English and Old Germanic societies.
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Wergeld
Wergeld is an Old English word that refers to a fine or compensation paid to a victim or their family for a crime or injury suffered. It was a system of paying restitution to the injured party, typically in the form of money or goods, to compensate for the harm caused.<br><br>In Anglo-Saxon law, wergeld was calculated based on social class and the severity of the injury. The amount of compensation varied greatly, ranging from a few shillings for a minor injury to hundreds of pounds for a more serious offense.<br><br>The concept of wergeld is still used today in some legal systems, particularly in Germany, where it is known as "Wiederherstellungskosten" or "restitutionary damages".<br><br>In a broader sense, the term wergeld can also refer to any sort of compensation or penalty for a wrong done, whether financial or otherwise.
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