amends (n.)

early 14c., "recompense, compensation for loss or injury," collective singular, from Old French amendes "fine, penalty, reparation, compensation," plural of amende "reparation," from amender "to amend" (see amend).

Entries linking to amends

amend (v.)

early 13c., "to free from faults, rectify," from Old French amender "correct, set right, make better, improve" (12c.), from Latin emendare "to correct, free from fault," from ex "out" (see ex-) + menda "fault, blemish," from PIE root *mend- "physical defect, fault" (source also of Sanskrit minda "physical blemish," Old Irish mennar "stain, blemish," Welsh mann "sign, mark").

The spelling with a- is unusual but early and also is found in Provençal and Italian. In English it has been supplanted in senses of "repair; cure" by its shortened offspring mend (v.). Meaning "to add to legislation" (ostensibly to correct or improve it) is recorded from 1777. Related: Amended; amending.

mend (n.)

early 14c., "recompense, reparation," a shortened form of amends. Sense of "a remedy, cure" (now obsolete) is from mid-14c., from mend (v.). Meaning "act of mending; a repaired hole or rip in fabric" is from 1888. Phrase on the mend "on the path to recovering from sickness, improving in condition" is attested by 1802.

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Definitions of amends

amends (n.)

a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury;

Synonyms: damages / indemnity / indemnification / restitution / redress

amends (n.)

something done or paid in expiation of a wrong;

how can I make amends

Synonyms: reparation

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near amends

amenable

amenableness

amend

amendable

amendment

amends

amenities

amenity

amenorrhea

ament

amentia