Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: WITEPENNY
Definition: In the past, when someone broke a law, they had to pay a fine called a wite. The witepenny was the money paid to make up for the wrong they did.
Definition: Witepenny is a term used in early English law to refer to money paid as a penalty or fine.
Example: If someone committed a crime in early England, they might have to pay a witepenny as punishment. For example, if someone stole a sheep, they might have to pay a witepenny to the owner of the sheep as compensation.
The example illustrates how witepenny was used as a form of punishment or compensation in early English law. It was a way to make someone pay for their wrongdoing and make amends for any harm they caused.