Middle English Dictionary Entry
amend(e)ment n.
Entry Info
| Forms | amend(e)ment n. Also amendiment. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Correction or rectification (of a bad situation, a fault, an error, etc.); bringen in ~, set to rights; stonden upon ~, be subject to correction; on ~, ?on pain of a fine [quot. 1389]; (b) repairing (of buildings), mending (of implements), etc.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)83 : Huanne me mysnymþ, hou þet hit by uounde myd amendement [Vices & V.(2): me fyndeþ wel a remedie and amendement].
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)p.108 : For to make an amendement For mete that ys to salt.
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)43/69 : Also is ordeined þat alle þo þat schul be receiued in to þis fraternite, þey schul..be charged to holden alle þese poyntes on amendement.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.83 : This bok, upon amendment To stonde at his commandement..I sende unto myn oghne lord.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2514 : A gret partie of that was wonne To Cristes feith stant now miswent: Godd do therof amendement!
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3406 : Þan bereþ he þe deuylys baner aboute..God do þerof amendment.
- (1419) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)99/24 : Amendement of þe deceyt & fals contrefetyng.
- a1450(?1418) The herrere degre (Dgb 102)79 : To brynge þat in amendement.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)5617 : Ye han makyd..The part Egal to the hoole..no wonder thogh she be wroth, And laboure for Amendement.
b
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.58 : He schal paye, to amendement of ye lyght, j d.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)48/5 : To ȝeue syche almes to amendment of parische chirches, noþer of heyȝ weyes.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.155/450 : For iij newe keyes, with amendement of iij lokkes, to dyuerse dores.
- (1432) RParl.4.405a : The Jetties of ye Haven..full nedefull of grete reparation and amendement.
2.
(a) Improvement in health, recovery; (b) relief (from ills, grief).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9225 : Neuer hadde þey amendement at any corseynt, But at þe vyrgyne Seynt Edyght.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.140 : If he be blynde..He shal ete..with my-selue, Tyl god..amendement hym sende.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3064 : On knees prayden þe Cristene hoost..'Geue Kyng Richard amendement!'
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)362/2 : Hee þat is seke euere hopith of a-mendemente.
- (c1450) Stonor1.52 : I have be ryȝth seke, bote nowe, blessyd be God, off amendment.
b
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)200 : Þe king..made swiche diol..Þer was non amendement.
- c1390 Heil be þow Marie Moodur (Vrn)20 : Heil Mayden..Of alle mischeues a-Mendement.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1654 : If ther be amendement, To glade with this woful king.
3.
Reparation or redress (of a wrong); compensation (for a loss); don, maken, taken ~, make amends.
Associated quotations
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6856 : He ne miȝte noȝt bileue, bote he amendement toke Of so vil dede.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6977 : Aȝen þe bissop ich rede Amendement do, þat is gultles of þe dede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4185 : Oure corn is stolen..And syn I sal haue nan amendement Agayn my los, I wil haue esement.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7273 : To setten either part in reste..With resonable amendement.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3189 : Þat ȝee make amendement [vr. amendiment] Of Leonyne..þat ȝee slouȝ.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)82 : The kynge..wolde make a-mendement to the lady..the lady..sholde come be-fore the kynge for to haue right..Thus was take the day of a-mendement.
4.
Betterment, improvement; benefit; bi wei of ~, for the benefit of (the Church); don ~, to benefit; comen to ~, succeed.
Associated quotations
- c1230 *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)69b : Þet ich ne muhe him tellen, þe mei don þe amendement.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8342 : No maner hope hii nadde to amendement to come.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Judith 8.27 : To amendement [L ad emendationem] and not..to oure perdicioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133b/a : Ventynge of eyr comynge to spiritis is cause of amendement [L meliorationis] of hem.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.122 : Salamon the sage, a sarmon hue made In amendement of meyres and oþere stywardes.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)133/13 : Cristis chirche pursweþ yuel lyuars in charite bi weye of amendement. But þe fendis chirche pursueþ Cristis chirche in malice bi weye of sclaundir & sleeyng.
- (?1419) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)97/12 : Þe Mair and Aldermen..for amendement and releuacioun of the people..haue ordeined [etc.].
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)286/29 : The bountee of wisemen euer gothe in a-mendement..the malices of fooles gothe daily in a-peirement.
5.
Ethics & theol. (a) Moral improvement, edification; bringen in ~, reform (sb.) morally, make a good Christian of (sb.); comen to ~, be converted to Christian living; in ~ of, for the edification of (sb.); (b) forgiveness (of sin); salvation (of souls); (c) penance, atonement.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)418/12 : Gret feste huy makiez in heouene..Ȝwan huy any amendement of us on vrþe i-seoth.
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)294 : Jesus..fur ȝiuez..To heom þat mis doth..And huy wollen with hore talent Comen to amendement.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10387 : Ȝuf hii miȝte..in amendement him bringe.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)56 : Þat þu wole..in amendement of me Make me a god sarmoun.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.903 : Han swiche preestes and hire lemmanes..the malisoun of al the court cristien, til they come to amendement.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.583 : If that it be thi wille To stonde upon amendement.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19594 : I[t] fell saint petre..To call men vnto amendment.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.365 : In hope of amendement.
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)19/22 : [Christ] habade thynne amendemente sa lange and sythen rescheyuede þe sa swetly.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)18/1 : Pray we to oure lady..of our lyuyng to haue amendement.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)650 : But he wolde come to a-mendement, he [the king] wolde hym chace oute of Rome.
b
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4714 : Lat vs prey to hym..To sende vs..of oure synnys parfit amendement.
- c1450(?a1400) SLChrist (Add 38666)2 : Ihesu, þat born was of a may In amendement of mankynde.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)60/15 : With-oute amendement thei be dampned.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)171 : Þe þridde [step in penance] in ynoȝ amendement be dede [Vices & V.(2): sufficiaunt amendes in dede doynge].
- a1400 Ffadur and sone (RwlLtrg g.2)24 : Don i haue sinnes fyue..to ihesu crist wol i me take, to don amendemens.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.173v : In elder age the duc gat dispensacion of his mariage, And in amendement of hur syn the duc made an abbey of religion of men, And the duchesse another of woman [?read: women]. And also the duc yaf an hundred prouendres to the vs of poure men.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)182/29 : Þat þe schame þat þey haue, to telle here synnes, is gret partie of þe amendement.