(a) Punishment, retribution, usu. employing physical torment; a punishment; also, a torment, an infliction; also, the punishment or torment of hell; helle (eche, etc.) ~; bi here ful ~, ?on pain of their paying full penalty; up ~ of, on pain of (sth.); fallen in ~, ?to become subject to penalty or punishment; (b) affliction, hardship; an affliction, a hardship; also, a plague; (c) ?extortion; (d) a disadvantageous consequence.

A fine or customary rent: (a) in the names of various customary feudal payments: ~ fe (hal-penis, penies, pounde, silver); (b) in other cpds. and combs.: ale ~, ?a customary rent paid in lieu of payments of ale to a lord; blod ~, child ~, q.v.; fe ~, a fine imposed for counterfeiting; ferd ~, fight ~, q.v.; fightinge ~, a fine imposed for breaking the peace; flegin ~, flemene(s ~, flit ~, q.v.; gilt ~, a fine for committing a crime or an offense [see also gilt-wite n.]; hang ~, q.v.; hegge ~, ?a fine for trespassing or property damage; hitte ~, q.v.; leir ~, a fine for adultery or similar offenses [see also leir-wite n.]; she ~, q.v.; warde ~ [see also warde-wite n.]; wered ~, ?a fee paid in lieu of military service; ?a fine imposed for failure to meet one’s military obligation; (c) ~ fre, exempt from such fines or rents.

(a) Guilt, blameworthiness; also, responsibility; also, an imputation of guilt or wrongdoing [quots. a1398 & 1461]; putten in ~, to subject (sb.) to blame; (b) wrongdoing; a misdeed, an offense; also, a fault; also, a basis for complaint or censure [quot. c1391]; withouten ~, without wrongdoing or fault;—sometimes with reduced semantic force; (c) one who bears the guilt (for sth.).