Amend

v. t. [imp. & p. p. AMENDED; p. pr. & vb. n. AMENDING.] [Fr. amender, for emender, It. ammendare, Sp. & Pg. emendar, Pr. emendar, esmendar, from Lat. emendare, from e, ex, and mendum, mendī, fault. See MEND.] To change in any way for the better, as, (a.) By simply removing what is erroneous, corrupt, superfluous, faulty, and the like; (b.) By supplying deficiencies; (c.) By substituting something else in the place of what is removed.

Mar not the thing that can not be amended. Shak.

An instant emergency, granting no possibility for revision, or opening for amended thought. De Quincey.

We shall cheer her sorrows, and amend her blood, by wedding her to a Norman. W. Scott.

Synonyms—To AMEND, EMEND. CORRECT, REFORM, RECTIFY. These words agree in the idea of bringing things into a more perfect state. We correct (literally, make straight) when we conform things to some standard or rule; as, to correct proof-sheets. We amend by removing blemishes or faults, and thus rendering a thing more perfect; as, to amend our ways. Emend is only another form of amend, and is applied chiefly to editions of books, &c. To reform is literally to form over again or put into a new and better form; as, to reform one's life. To rectify is to make right; as, to rectify a mistake. We speak of correcting what is erroneous, of amending the moral conduct, of emending the edition of some book, of reforming what is faulty in ourselves or others, of rectifying (applied chiefly to things past) abuses, inadvertences, &c.