Amend - Amiss

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Syn. -- To , , , , . 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.
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Amend (ȧmĕnd), v. i. To grow better by rectifying something wrong in manners or morals; to improve. “My fortune . . . amends.” Sir P. Sidney.
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Amendable (�), a. Capable of being amended; as, an amendable writ or error. -- Amendableness, n.
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Amendatory (�), a. Supplying amendment; corrective; emendatory. Bancroft.
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Amende (�), n. [F. See .] A pecuniary punishment or fine; a reparation or recantation.
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Coloq. 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.
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Amender (�), n. One who amends.
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Amendful (�), a. Much improving. [Obs.]
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Amendment (�), 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.
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2. In public bodies; Any alternation made or proposed to be made in a bill or motion by adding, changing, substituting, or omitting.
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3. (Law) Correction of an error in a writ or process.
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Syn. -- Improvement; reformation; emendation.
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Amends (�), n. sing. & pl. [F. amendes, pl. of amende. Cf. .] Compensation for a loss or injury; recompense; reparation. [Now const. with sing. verb.] “An honorable amends.” Addison.
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Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends. Shak.
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amenia n. 1. absence or suppression of normal menstrual flow.
Syn. -- amenorrhea
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amenities n. 1. things that make you comfortable and at ease. all the amenities of a first-class hotel
Syn. -- comforts, creature comforts, conveniences
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Amenity (�), n.; pl. Amenities (�). [F. aménité, L. amoenitas, fr. amoenus pleasant.] The quality of being pleasant or agreeable, whether in respect to situation, climate, manners, or disposition; pleasantness; civility; suavity; gentleness.
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A sweetness and amenity of temper. Buckle.
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This climate has not seduced by its amenities. W. Howitt.
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Amenorrhœa (�), n. [Gr. 'a priv. + � month + � to flow: cf. F. aménorrhée.] (Med.) Retention or suppression of the menstrual discharge.
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Amenorrhœal (�), a. Pertaining to amenorrhœa.
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Amen-Ra n. 1. 1 the ancient Egyptian sun god; supreme god of the universe in whom Amen and Ra were combined; principal deity during Theban supremacy.
Syn. -- Amon-Ra
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A mensa et thoro (�). [L., from board and bed.] (Law) A kind of divorce which does not dissolve the marriage bond, but merely authorizes a separate life of the husband and wife. Abbott.
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Ament (�), n. [L. amentum thong or strap.] (Bot.) A species of inflorescence; a catkin.
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The globular ament of a buttonwood. Coues.
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Amentaceous (�), a. [LL. amentaceus.] (Bot.) (a) Resembling, or consisting of, an ament or aments; as, the chestnut has an amentaceous inflorescence. (b) Bearing aments; having flowers arranged in aments; as, amentaceous plants.
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Amentia (�), n. [L.] (Med.) Imbecility; total lack of understanding.
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Amentiferae n. 1. used in some classification systems for plants that bear catkins.
Syn. -- group Amentiferae
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Amentiferous (�), a. [L. amentum + -ferous.] (Bot.) Bearing catkins. Balfour.
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Amentiform (�), a. [L. amentum + -form.] (Bot.) Shaped like a catkin.
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Amentum (�), n.; pl. Amenta (�). Same as .
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Amenuse (�), v. t. [OF. amenuisier. See .] To lessen. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Amerce (ȧmẽrs), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amerced (ȧmẽrst); p. pr. & vb. n. Amercing.] [OF. amercier, fr. a merci at the mercy of, liable to a punishment. See .] 1. To punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion of the court; as, the court amerced the criminal in the sum of one hundred dollars.
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☞ The penalty or fine may be expressed without a preposition, or it may be introduced by in, with, or of.
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2. To punish, in general; to mulct.
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Millions of spirits for his fault amerced
Of Heaven. Milton.
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Shall by him be amerced with penance due. Spenser.
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Amerceable (�), a. Liable to be amerced.
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Amercement (�), n. [OF. amerciment.] The infliction of a penalty at the discretion of the court; also, a mulct or penalty thus imposed. It differs from a fine, in that the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed by statute for an offense; but an amercement is arbitrary. Hence, the act or practice of affeering. [See .] Blackstone.
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☞ This word, in old books, is written amerciament.
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Coloq. Amercement royal , a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his office. Jacobs.
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Amercer (�), n. One who amerces.
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Amerciament (�), n. [LL. amerciamentum.] Same as . Mozley & W.
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American (ȧmẽrĭk�n), a. [Named from Americus Vespucius.] 1. Of or pertaining to America; as, the American continent: American Indians.
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2. Of or pertaining to the United States. “A young officer of the American navy.” Lyell.
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Coloq. American ivy . See . -- Coloq. American Party (U. S. Politics), a party, about 1854, which opposed the influence of foreign-born citizens, and those supposed to owe allegiance to a foreign power. -- Coloq. Native american Party (U. S. Politics), a party of principles similar to those of the American party. It arose about 1843, but soon died out.
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American (ȧmẽrĭk�n), n. A native of America; -- originally applied to the aboriginal inhabitants, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America, and especially to the citizens of the United States.
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The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism. Washington.
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Americana (ȧmẽrĭkănȧ), n. 1. any artifact (such a books or furniture or art) that is distinctive to America.
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American Indian n. 1. a red-skinned member of a race of people living in North America when Europeans arrived.
Syn. -- Indian, native American, Amerindian, Red Indian
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American-Indian adj. 1. of or pertaining to American Indians
Syn. -- Amerindian, Amerind, Amerindic, Indian, native American
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Americanism (�), n. 1. Attachment to the United States.
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2. A custom peculiar to the United States or to America; an American characteristic or idea.
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3. A word or phrase peculiar to the United States.
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Americanization (ȧmẽrĭk�nĭzāshŭn), n. The process of Americanizing.
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Americanize (ȧmẽrĭk�nīz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Americanizer (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Americanizing.] To render American; to assimilate to the Americans in customs, ideas, etc.; to stamp with American characteristics.
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American plan. In hotels, aplan upon which guests pay for both room and board by the day, week, or other convenient period; -- contrasted with European plan.
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American Protective Association. A secret organization in the United States, formed in Iowa in 1887, ostensibly for the protection of American institutions by keeping Roman Catholics out of public office. Abbrev. commonly to A. P .A.
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American sign language n. a sign language, used in the United States mostly by the deaf or for communication with the deaf, in which gestures made with the hands symbolize words, alphabetical letters, or ideas, permitting rapid communication in the absence of speech.
Syn. -- Ameslan.
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Ames-ace (�), n. Same as .
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Ameslan n. 1. American sign language. [An acronym which is spelled and pronounced as a simple word]
Syn. -- American sign language
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Amess (�), n. (Eccl.) Amice, a hood or cape. See 2d .
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Ametabola (�), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A group of insects which do not undergo any metamorphosis. [Written also Ametabolia.]
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Ametabolian (�), a. [Gr. � unchangeable; 'a priv. + � changeable, � to change.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to insects that do undergo any metamorphosis.
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{ Ametabolic (�), Ametabolous, } a. (Zoöl.) Not undergoing any metamorphosis; as, ametabolic insects. Opposite of metabolic.
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2. undergoing only slight metamorphosis
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Amethodist (�), n. [Pref. a- not + methodist.] One without method; a quack. [Obs.]
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Amethyst (�), [F. ametiste, amatiste, F. améthyste, L. amethystus, fr. Gr. � without drunkenness; as a noun, a remedy for drunkenness, the amethyst, supposed to have this power; 'a priv. + � to be drunken, � strong drink, wine. See .]
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1. (Min.) A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used as a jeweler's stone.
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Coloq. Oriental amethyst , the violet-blue variety of transparent crystallized corundum or sapphire.
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2. (Her.) A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat of arms.
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Amethystine (�), a. [L. amethystinus, Gr. �.] 1. Resembling amethyst, especially in color; bluish violet.
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2. Composed of, or containing, amethyst.
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Ametropia (�), n. [Gr. � irregular + �, �, eye.] (Med.) a visual impairment resulting from faulty refraction of light rays in the eye. Subtypes include myopia astigmatism and hyperopia. -- Ametropic (�), a.
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ametropic adj. 1. of or pertaining to ametropia.
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Amharic (�), a. Of or pertaining to Amhara, a division of Abyssinia; as, the Amharic language is closely allied to the Ethiopic. -- n. The Amharic language (now the chief language of Abyssinia).
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Amia (�), n. [L., fr. Gr. � a kind of tunny.] (Zoöl.) A genus of fresh-water ganoid fishes, exclusively confined to North America; called bowfin in Lake Champlain, dogfish in Lake Erie, and mudfish in South Carolina, etc. See .
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Amiability (�), n. The quality of being amiable; amiableness; sweetness of disposition.
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Every excellency is a degree of amiability. Jer. Taylor.
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Amiable (�), a. [F. amiable, L. amicabilis friendly, fr. amicus friend, fr. amare to love. The meaning has been influenced by F. aimable, L. amabilis lovable, fr. amare to love. Cf. , , .] 1. Lovable; lovely; pleasing. [Obs. or R.]
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So amiable a prospect. Sir T. Herbert.
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2. Friendly; kindly; sweet; gracious; as, an amiable temper or mood; amiable ideas.
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3. Possessing sweetness of disposition; having sweetness of temper, kind-heartedness, etc., which causes one to be liked; as, an amiable woman.
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4. Done out of love. [Obs.]
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Lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife. Shak.
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Amiableness, n. The quality of being amiable; amiability.
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Amiably, adv. In an amiable manner.
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Amianth (�), n. See . [Poetic]
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Amianthiform (�), a. [Amianthus + -form.] Resembling amianthus in form.
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Amianthoid (�), a. [Amianthus + -oid: cf. F. amiantoïde.] Resembling amianthus.
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Amianthus (�), n. [L. amiantus, Gr. � � (lit., unsoiled stone) a greenish stone, like asbestus; 'a priv. + � to stain, to defile; so called from its incombustibility.] (Min.) Earth flax, or mountain flax; a soft silky variety of asbestus.
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Amic (�), a. [L. ammonia + -ic.] (Chem.) Related to, or derived, ammonia; -- used chiefly as a suffix; as, amic acid; phosphamic acid.
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Coloq. Amic acid (Chem.), one of a class of nitrogenized acids somewhat resembling amides.
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Amicability (�), n. The quality of being amicable; friendliness; amicableness. Ash.
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Amicable (�), a. [L. amicabilis, fr. amicus friend, fr. amare to love. See .] Friendly; proceeding from, or exhibiting, friendliness; after the manner of friends; peaceable; as, an amicable disposition, or arrangement.
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That which was most remarkable in this contest was . . . the amicable manner in which it was managed. Prideoux.
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Coloq. Amicable action (Law.), an action commenced and prosecuted by amicable consent of the parties, for the purpose of obtaining a decision of the court on some matter of law involved in it. Bouvier. Burrill. -- Coloq. Amicable numbers (Math.), two numbers, each of which is equal to the sum of all the aliquot parts of the other.
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Syn. -- Friendly; peaceable; kind; harmonious. -- , . Neither of these words denotes any great warmth of affection, since friendly has by no means the same strength as its noun friendship. It does, however, imply something of real cordiality; while amicable supposes very little more than that the parties referred to are not disposed to quarrel. Hence, we speak of amicable relations between two countries, an amicable adjustment of difficulties. “Those who entertain friendly feelings toward each other can live amicably together.”
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Amicableness (�), n. The quality of being amicable; amicability.
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Amicably, adv. In an amicable manner.
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Amice (�), n. [OE. amyse, prob. for amyt, OF. amit, ameit, fr. L. amictus cloak, the word being confused with amice, almuce, a hood or cape. See next word.] A square of white linen worn at first on the head, but now about the neck and shoulders, by priests of the Roman Catholic Church while saying Mass.
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Amice, n. [OE. amuce, amisse, OF. almuce, aumuce, F. aumusse, LL. almucium, almucia, aumucia: of unknown origin; cf. G. mütze cap, prob. of the same origin. Cf. .] (Eccl.) A hood, or cape with a hood, made of lined with gray fur, formerly worn by the clergy; -- written also amess, amyss, and almuce.
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Amid (�), prep. See .
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Amide (?; 277), n. [Ammonia + -ide.] (Chem.) A compound formed by the union of amidogen with an acid element or radical. It may also be regarded as ammonia in which one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by an acid atom or radical.
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Coloq. Acid amide , a neutral compound formed by the substitution of the amido group for hydroxyl in an acid.
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Amidin (�), n. [Cf. F. amidine, fr. amido� starch, fr. L. amylum, Gr. � fine meal, neut. of � not ground at the mill, -- hence, of the finest meal; 'a priv. + �, �, mill. See .] (Chem.) Start modified by heat so as to become a transparent mass, like horn. It is soluble in cold water.
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Amido (�), a. [From .] (Chem.) Containing, or derived from, amidogen.
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Coloq. Amido acid , an acid in which a portion of the nonacid hydrogen has been replaced by the amido group. The amido acids are both basic and acid. -- Coloq. Amido group , amidogen, NH2.
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Amidogen (�), n. [Amide + -gen.] (Chem.) A compound radical, NH2, not yet obtained in a separate state, which may be regarded as ammonia from the molecule of which one of its hydrogen atoms has been removed; -- called also the amido group, and in composition represented by the form amido.
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Amidol (?), n. [Amide + -ol as in alcohol.] (Photog. & Chem.) A salt of a diamino phenol, C6H3(OH)(NH2)2, used as a developer.
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Amidships (�), adv. (Naut.) In the middle of a ship, with regard to her length, and sometimes also her breadth. Totten.
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{ Amidst (�), Amid (�), } prep. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a later addition, as in whilst, amongst, alongst. See .] In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. “This fair tree amidst the garden.” “Unseen amid the throng.” “Amidst thick clouds.” Milton. “Amidst acclamations.” “Amidst the splendor and festivity of a court.” Macaulay.
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But rather famish them amid their plenty. Shak.
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Syn. -- , . These words differ to some extent from each other, as will be seen from their etymology. Amidst denotes in the midst or middle of, and hence surrounded by; as, this work was written amidst many interruptions. Among denotes a mingling or intermixing with distinct or separable objects; as, “He fell among thieves.” “Blessed art thou among women.” Hence, we say, among the moderns, among the ancients, among the thickest of trees, among these considerations, among the reasons I have to offer. Amid and amidst are commonly used when the idea of separate or distinguishable objects is not prominent. Hence, we say, they kept on amidst the storm, amidst the gloom, he was sinking amidst the waves, he persevered amidst many difficulties; in none of which cases could among be used. In like manner, Milton speaks of Abdiel, --
The seraph Abdiel, faithful found;
Among the faithless faithful only he,
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because he was then considered as one of the angels. But when the poet adds, --
From amidst them forth he passed,
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we have rather the idea of the angels as a collective body.
Those squalid cabins and uncleared woods amidst which he was born. Macaulay.
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Amigo (?), n.; pl. Amigos (#). [Sp., fr. L. amicus.] A friend; -- a Spanish term applied in the Philippine Islands to friendly natives.
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Amine (?; 277), n. [Ammonia + -ine.] (Org. Chem.) One of a class of basic substances derived from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by an alkyl or aryl group. Compare , in which an acyl group is attached to the nitrogen. Hydroxylamine and hydrazine, which are not an organic compounds, are also basic and may also be considered amines.
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aminoalkane n. 1. a compound derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms by univalent hydrocarbon radicals.
Syn. -- amine, alkyl amine
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aminobenzine n. 1. an oily poisonous liquid amine obtained from nitrobenzene and used to make dyes and plastics and medicines. Same as .
Syn. -- aniline oil, phenylamine
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Aminol (?), n. [From amine.] (Pharm.) A colorless liquid prepared from herring brine and containing amines, used as a local antiseptic.
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aminomethane n. 1. a methyl with the hydrogen atom replaced by an amino radical.
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aminopyrine n. 1. 1 a white crystalline substance used as an analgesic and antipyretic.
Syn. -- amidopyrine
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Amioid (�), a. (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the Amioidei. -- n. One of the Amioidei.
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Amioidei (�), n. pl. [NL., fr. Amia + -oid.] (Zoöl.) An order of ganoid fishes of which Amia is the type. See and .
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Amir (�), n. Same as .
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Amish (?), n. sing. & pl. [Written also Omish.] (Eccl. Hist.) The Amish Mennonites.
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Amish, a. [Written also Omish.] (Eccl. Hist.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, the followers of Jacob Amman, a strict Mennonite of the 17th century, who even proscribed the use of buttons and shaving as “worldly conformity”. There are several branches of Amish Mennonites in the United States. A branch having particularly strict adherence to the Amish principles are called Old Order Amish
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Amiss (�), adv. [Pref. a- + miss.] Astray; faultily; improperly; wrongly; ill.
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What error drives our eyes and ears amiss? Shak.
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Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss. James iv. 3.
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Coloq. To take (an act, thing) amiss , to impute a wrong motive to (an act or thing); to take offense at; to take unkindly; as, you must not take these questions amiss.
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