amend
amend Lexical Profile
amend Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To make formal changes, additions, or revisions to a legal document, legislative bill, contract, or constitution in order to improve, update, or correct it.
"The committee voted to amend the bylaws so that members could cast their ballots electronically."
To put right, rectify, or reform a mistake, fault, or unsatisfactory behavior.
"You can still amend the oversight on your tax return by filing a supplemental form before the deadline."
To enrich or improve the texture, fertility, and drainage of soil by mixing in organic matter, compost, or minerals.
"Before planting the spring vegetables, the gardener decided to amend the heavy clay soil with aged compost."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'amend' with 'emend'; 'amend' means to alter or improve a legal document, law, or behavior generally, whereas 'emend' specifically refers to making scholarly or editorial corrections to a literary text.
• Rhymes for amend
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English from Old French amender, which derives from the Latin verb emendare ('to free from fault, correct'), formed from ex- ('out') and mendum ('fault, blemish').