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Where does the word "amend" come from? It comes from Latin emendare, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "amend" come from? It comes from Latin emendare, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Amend’s story begins in Latin: emendare meant “to free from fault.” 'ex-' plus 'menda', fault. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as amender. The 'e' became 'a' in French. It reached English by 1200s as amend. Constitutional 'amendments' date from the 1700s. Today, amend means to make minor changes to.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient emendare "to free from fault", 'ex-' plus 'menda', fault.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval amender "to correct", the 'e' became 'a' in French.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s amend "to correct", constitutional 'amendments' date from the 1700s.