Chapter Ameliorate to Amide of A by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Amend
(A*mend") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amended; p. pr. & vb. n. Amending.] [F. amender, L. emendare; e (ex) + mendum, menda, fault, akin to Skr. minda personal defect. Cf. Emend, Mend.] To change or modify in any way for the better; as, (a) by simply removing what is erroneous, corrupt, superfluous, faulty, and the like; (b) by supplying deficiencies; (c) by substituting something else in the place of what is removed; to rectify.

Mar not the thing that can not be amended.
Shak.

An instant emergency, granting no possibility for revision, or opening for amended thought.
De Quincey.

We shall cheer her sorrows, and amend her blood, by wedding her to a Norman.
Sir W. Scott.

To amend a bill, to make some change in the details or provisions of a bill or measure while on its passage, professedly for its improvement.

Syn. — To Amend, Emend, Correct, Reform, Rectify. These words agree in the idea of bringing things into a more perfect state. We correct (literally, make straight) when we conform things to some standard or rule; as, to correct proof sheets. We amend by removing blemishes, faults, or errors, and thus rendering a thing more a nearly perfect; as, to amend our ways, to amend a text, the draft of a bill, etc. Emend is only another form of amend, and is applied chiefly to editions of books, etc. To reform is literally to form over again, or put into a new and better form; as, to reform one's life. To rectify is to make right; as, to rectify a mistake, to rectify abuses, inadvertencies, etc.

Amend
(A*mend") v. i. To grow better by rectifying something wrong in manners or morals; to improve. "My fortune . . . amends." Sir P. Sidney.

Amendable
(A*mend"a*ble) a. Capable of being amended; as, an amendable writ or error. — A*mend"a*ble*ness, n.

Amendatory
(A*mend"a*to*ry) a. Supplying amendment; corrective; emendatory. Bancroft.

Amende
(||A`mende") n. [F. See Amend.] A pecuniary punishment or fine; a reparation or recantation.

Amende honorable (Old French Law) A species of infamous punishment in which the offender, being led into court with a rope about his neck, and a lighted torch in his hand, begged pardon of his God, the court, etc. In popular language, the phrase now denotes a public apology or recantation, and reparation to an injured party, for improper language or treatment.

Amender
(A*mend"er) n. One who amends.

Amendful
(A*mend"ful) a. Much improving. [Obs.]

Amendment
(A*mend"ment) n. [F. amendement, LL. amendamentum.]

1. An alteration or change for the better; correction of a fault or of faults; reformation of life by quitting vices.

2. In public bodies; Any alternation made or proposed to be made in a bill or motion by adding, changing, substituting, or omitting.

3. (Law) Correction of an error in a writ or process.

Syn. — Improvement; reformation; emendation.