amend

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to set straight or right

   I amended my statements.

2. 2
   verb

   to make better

   I amended the constitution.

3. 3
   verb

   to make amendments or changes to

   They wanted to amend the document.

4. 4
   verb

   To make better; improve.

   Mud not the fountain that gave drink to thee; Mar not the thing that cannot be amended.

5. 5
   verb

   To become better.

   The teacher sat at one end of the bench, with a meek little fellow by his side. When the others were disorderly, this young martyr received a rap; intended, probably, as a sample of what the rest might expect, if they didn't amend.

6. 6
   verb

   To heal (someone sick); to cure (a disease etc.).

   But Paridell complaynd, that his late fight / With Britomart, so sore did him offend, / That ryde he could not, till his hurts he did amend.

7. 7
   verb

   To be healed, to be cured, to recover (from an illness).

   Ay, sir; there are a crew of wretched souls That stay his cure: their malady convinces The great assay of art; but at his touch— Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand— They presently amend.

8. 8
   verb

   To make a formal alteration (in legislation, a report, etc.) by adding, deleting, or rephrasing.

   The following motions cannot be amended:

Etymology

From Middle English amenden, from Old French amender, from Latin ēmendō (“free from faults”), from ex (“from, out of”) + mendum (“fault”). Compare aphetic mend. Doublet of emend.