Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: WYTE
Definition: In the past, wyte was a way to avoid being punished for breaking a law or rule. It was like a special protection. Another word for wyte is wite.
Wyte (pronounced "wIt") is a historical term that has two meanings:
Amercement is a type of punishment or fine that was used in medieval England. If someone broke a law, they could be ordered to pay an amercement as a penalty. However, if they had wyte, they were exempt from this punishment.
The second meaning of wyte is related to the Old English word wit, which means "knowledge" or "understanding." In this context, wyte refers to a person's knowledge or understanding of a particular subject.
Example 1: In medieval England, if a person had wyte, they could avoid paying an amercement for breaking a law.
Example 2: The scholar had great wyte in the field of astronomy, and was able to make important discoveries.
These examples illustrate the two different meanings of wyte. In the first example, wyte refers to a legal exemption from punishment. In the second example, it refers to a person's knowledge or expertise in a particular subject.