Middle English Dictionary Entry
amē̆nde(s n.
Entry Info
| Forms | amē̆nde(s n. |
| Etymology | OF; both amende & amendes are construed as sg.; cp. an amendes & pl. amendisis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Reparation, retribution, amends (as for an offense or crime, or for harm done); don, maken, paien ~, make amends, compensate; -- often with of phrase; (b) reparation demanded by, or owing to, the person injured; min, his ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)848 : Amendes! Mi fader is slain.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4426 : Ȝif ani of our haþ þe misdo..take þe amendes after þe gilt.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)488 : Of hire hert sche wold seche amendis, For sche so wrongly had wrouȝt.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7287 : There gat he non amende.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.340 : Membre for membre bi þe olde lawe was amendes.
- (1414) RParl.4.59b : That the same Priour and Chanons..for the heye wronges that they hav done to the forseide tenauntz..mowen maken hem due amendes.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.342 : Your beaute may nat strecche To make amendes of so cruel a dede.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)3802 : With-oute amend Off al the harme that we him dud.
- (1430) Proc.Privy C.4.25 : Satisfaccion to be maad to þe King..and amende of þeire wranges.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)99 : Til that he have maad a ful amendys [F les amendes] on to the partye of the trepas.
- (1443) Will York in Sur.Soc.30130 : I will that they make restitucion to them and a competent amendes.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)110 : As thei ben bounden into a sufficient amendis.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.175 : Dowble Amendis I schal ȝow Make.
- c1450 How GMan(2) (Lamb 853)137 : Of þi trespas make ameendis, And to poore men of þi good þou dele.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)162 : A-mendes the be-hovythe to pay.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)82 : What a-mendes the kynge wolde do of hir lorde that is deed.
- a1605(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(2))23190 : I..cast my gage tofore the kynge, to have amende of all this thynge.
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4150 : By-fore Rayner sete þe on kne, And on hys mercye pote þou þe, and is amendes make.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2936 : We been nat of power to maken his amendes.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)5.97 : Mede hath mad myne amendes [A: haþ maad me amendes].
2.
A fine.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)37 : Þe ontrewe reuen..bedeles and seruons þet steleþ þe amendes and wyþdraȝeþ þe rentes of hire lhordes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)38 : Kueade lordes..þet be-ulaȝeþ þe poure men..be tayles..be amendes [Vices & V.(2): and make hem paye gret amendes].
- c1410(a1387) Legal Gloss.Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)95 : Cultwyte, amendes [L emenda] for trespas..Flittwyte, amendes i-doo for chydynge. Leyrwe [vr. leyrewite], amendes for liggynge by a bond womman.
- a1475 Legal Gloss.Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)21/43 : Blood-wyte is a-mercyment or amendis for shedynge of bloode.
3.
Theol. (a) Penance, an act of penance (for sin); (b) of Christ: atonement.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)113 : Be one zenne dyadlich..he ssel to gode..zuo grat amendes þet he ne heþ miȝte uor to yelde.
- c1410 Medit.SSelf (UC 97)443 : I may not make amendis of myne innumerable synnes.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)74/18 : Schrifte of mouþe..& amendis makyng.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)216 : To aske..twey amendisis or twey satisfacciouns for oon and þe same precise trespace.
- a1450 Bi a wode (Gar 143)p.376 : Here begynne þe songe of amendis makinge.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)184/1 : Þe schrift-fadre..schal juge þe amendes of þe euel dede, as in fastyng or in almesse doynge..after þat þe synne askeþ.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)175/192 : Aftere my [Death's] strook man hath no space to make amendys ffor his trespace.
b
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.325 : Owre [lorde]..seyde to Sathan, 'Lo, here my soule to amendes For alle synneful soules!'
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)216 : Oure lord jhesus haþ maad at fulle amendis..for al mankyndis synne.
4.
Relief (from grief).
Associated quotations
- c1400 Bi a wey (Ashm 343)53 : Þynk on him þat all schall make..He haþe myȝt oure sorowys to slake; Ful gode amennys he wol ous make.
5.
Admonishing; ?moral betterment.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)148 : Of zoþe loue and of grat compassion ssolle þe amendes by y-do [Vices & V.(2): schal men amenden þe synful].
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)9 : An Amendes: emenda, emendacio, correccio.