amendment
(əˈmɛndmənt)
Also 3–7 amendement; aphet. mendment.
[a. OFr. amendement f. amender: see amend and -ment.]
The action of amending, whether in process, or as completed.
1. Removal of faults, correction, reformation. a. of human conduct. absol. = self-reformation.
1297 R. Glouc. 472 Ȝuf eni man in mansinge were ibrouȝt, & suþþe come to amendment. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. iv. 122 A sarmon he made In amendement of meyres. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour 60 Withoute amendement thei be dampned. 1557 N. T. (Genev.) Matt. iii. 8 Y⊇ fruites belongyng to amendement of life. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. ii. 114, I see a good amendment of life in thee: from Praying, to Purse⁓taking. 1732 Law Serious Call xxiii. (ed. 2) 467 Without any remorse of mind, or true desire of amendment. 1839 J. H. Newman Par. Serm. IV. vii. 111 Men commonly think..that amendment is an expiation. |
b. of faults or errors in things, as a book, a law, etc.
1599 Thynne Animadv. 59 The former printe..deseruethe amendemente. 1759 Dilworth Pope 17 Mr. Pope promised to revise his poems..finding great room for amendment. 1762 Goldsm. Nash 57 This amendment of the law soon gave birth to new evasions. 1843 Mill Logic Introd. 2 Has adopted the above definition with an amendment. |
c. Law. Correction of error in a writ or process.
1607 J. Cowell Interpr. (1637) D j b, Amendment..a correction of an errour committed in a Processe, and espied before judgement. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. xxv. (R.) Courts, where justice requires it, will allow of amendments. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict. G ij b/2 The court gave leave to file a right bill..This was done as an amendment at common law. |
d. The alteration of a bill before Parliament. Hence concr. A clause, paragraph, or words proposed to be substituted for others, or to be inserted, in a bill (the result of the adoption of which may even be to defeat the measure; see amend 4).
1696 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 149 The commons reason for disagreeing to the lords amendment. 1710 Lond. Gaz. mmmmdcciii/2 A Bill for the better securing the Liberty of the Subject..was agreed to with some Amendments. 1825 T. Jefferson Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. 48 This should be..attempted only by way of amendment, whenever the bill should be brought on. 1883 Daily News 4 May 3/5 The House divided on the amendment by Sir R. Cross, that the bill be read a second time on that day six months. |
e. In a Public Meeting. A proposed alteration in the terms of a resolution submitted to a meeting for adoption; extended to a resolution proposed instead of or in opposition to another; a countermotion.
(During the period from 1840 to 1848, it was the practice in some parts of the country where the Chartists were strong, to move ‘The People's Charter’ as an ‘amendment’ to every resolution proposed in Public Meeting on any subject whatever.)
† 2. Repair, mending (of things damaged). Obs.
1602 W. Fulbecke 2nd Pt. Parall. 52 The tenant may cut trees for the amendment of houses. 1682 Lond. Gaz. mdcclv/3 [The Engine] has daily forced up great quantities of Water..without the least error or amendment. |
3. General ‘improvement’ of condition.
1297 R. Glouc. 404 Non maner hope hii nadde, to amendement to come. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 30 If there be amendement To gladde with this wofull king. 1576 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 261 A fair to be holden—for the amendment of the Towne. 1692 Ray Creation (J.) Her works are so perfect that there is no place for amendments. 1868 Ruskin Pol. Econ. Art Add. 186 If the points that I want amended seem to you incapable of amendment, or not in need of amendment, say so. |
4. Improvement in health, recovery from illness.
1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne (1901) 9225 Ne never hadde þey amendement..at any corseynt, But at þe vyrgyne Seynt Edyght. 1526 Tindale Mark v. 26 [She]..felte none amendment [Wyclif, was no thing amendid] at all, But wexed worsse. 1601 Shakes. All's Well i. i. 12 Count. What hope is there of his maiesties amendment? Laf. He hath abandon'd his Physitions, Madam. 1745 H. Walpole Lett. to H. Mann 121 (1834) II. 22 His recovery is now at such a pause..it is in vain to expect much further amendment. 1789 R. F. Greville Diaries 17 Feb. (1930) 228 The King for some time past, had been in a State of Amendment &..he was this day in a state of convalescence. 1814 Jane Austen Mansf. Park III. xvi. 260 Tom's amendment was alarmingly slow. |
† 5. Amends-making, reparation. Obs.
1297 R. Glouc. 54 Þat he for ys neueu wolde..Do hey amendement. c 1386 Chaucer Reeve's T. 265 Syn I sal have nan amendement Agayn my los. c 1450 Merlin v. 79 Yef the pees and the a-mendement to the lady lay in me. |
† 6. ‘Improvement’ of the soil; concr. that which improves the soil, manure. Obs.
1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle iv. x. (1483) 62 Yet sawe I neuer tree that wold nought saue hym seluen by moysture..yf hit myght be and receyuen tylthe and amendement. 1668 Child Disc. Trade (ed. 4) 241 If a man borrow five pounds, and bestow it on an acre of ground, the amendment stands him in ten shillings the year. 1699 Evelyn Acetaria (1729) 156 Chalk, Lime, and other sweet Soil and Amendments. |