term:

Commute

commute vt

com·mut·ed
com·mut·ing
1 : to convert (as a payment) into another form
2 : to change (a penalty) to one less severe esp. out of clemency compare pardon
com·mu·ta·tion [kÄ -myə-tā-shən]
n

com·mu·ta·tive [kə-myü-tə-tiv, kÄ -myə-tā-tiv]
adj

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.