amend

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: a=mend

CIDE DICTIONARY

amend, v. t. [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  [1913 Webster]
"Mar not the thing that can not be amended."  [1913 Webster]
"An instant emergency, granting no possibility for revision, or opening for amended thought."  [1913 Webster]
"We shall cheer her sorrows, and amend her blood, by wedding her to a Norman."  [1913 Webster]

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.

amend, v. i. 

 To grow better by rectifying something wrong in manners or morals; to improve.  Sir P. Sidney.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

amend, v.tr.
1 make minor improvements in (a text or a written proposal).
2 correct an error or errors in (a document).
3 make better; improve.

Usage

Often confused with emend, a more technical word used in the context of textual correction.

Derivative

amendable adj. amender n.

Etymology

ME f. OF amender ult. f. L emendare EMEND

THESAURUS

amend

acculturate, advance, ameliorate, better, blue-pencil, boost, bring forward, civilize, come along, come on, compensate, correct, develop, edify, edit, educate, elevate, emend, emendate, enhance, enlighten, enrich, fatten, favor, fix, forward, foster, gain, gain ground, get ahead, get along, give satisfaction, go ahead, go forward, go straight, graduate, grow better, improve, improve upon, lard, lift, look up, make all square, make an improvement, make good, make headway, make progress, make right, make strides, meliorate, mend, new-model, nurture, pay reparations, perk up, pick up, progress, promote, put right, put straight, put to rights, raise, re-form, recense, reclaim, recompense, rectify, redact, redeem, redraft, redress, refashion, refine upon, reform, regenerate, remedy, remodel, remunerate, renew, repair, requite, reshape, restore self-respect, revamp, revise, rework, rewrite, right, set right, set straight, set to rights, set up, shape up, show improvement, skyrocket, socialize, straighten out, take off, transfigure, transform, upgrade, uplift, work over

ROGET THESAURUS

amend

Improvement

VB improve, be better, become better, get better, mend, amend, advance, ascend, increase, fructify, ripen, mature, pick up, come about, rally, take a favorable turn, turn over a new leaf, turn the corner, raise one's head, sow one's wild oats, recover, be better, be improved by, turn to right account, turn to good account, turn to best account, profit by, reap the benefit of, make good use of, make capital out of, place to good account, render better, improve, mend, amend, better, ameliorate, meliorate, correct, decrassify, improve upon, refine upon, rectify, enrich, mellow, elaborate, fatten, promote, cultivate, advance, forward, enhance, bring forward, bring on, foster, invigorate, touch up, rub up, brush up, furbish up, bolster up, vamp up, brighten up, warm up, polish, cook, make the most of, set off to advantage, prune, repair, put in order, review, revise, make corrections, make improvements, doctor, purify, relieve, refresh, infuse new blood into, recruit, reform, remodel, reorganize, new model, view in a new light, think better of, appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober, palliate, mitigate, lessen an evil, improve, be better, become better, get better, mend, amend, advance, ascend, increase, fructify, ripen, mature, pick up, come about, rally, take a favorable turn, turn over a new leaf, turn the corner, raise one's head, sow one's wild oats, recover, be better, be improved by, turn to right account, turn to good account, turn to best account, profit by, reap the benefit of, make good use of, make capital out of, place to good account, render better, improve, mend, amend, better, ameliorate, meliorate, correct, decrassify, improve upon, refine upon, rectify, enrich, mellow, elaborate, fatten, promote, cultivate, advance, forward, enhance, bring forward, bring on, foster, invigorate, touch up, rub up, brush up, furbish up, bolster up, vamp up, brighten up, warm up, polish, cook, make the most of, set off to advantage, prune, repair, put in order, review, revise, make corrections, make improvements, doctor, purify, relieve, refresh, infuse new blood into, recruit, reform, remodel, reorganize, new model, view in a new light, think better of, appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober, palliate, mitigate, lessen an evil.