Latin for 'removal of defect,' from 'mendum' (fault) — sibling of 'emend,' 'mend,' and 'amends.'
A minor change or addition designed to improve a text, piece of legislation, or formal document; a revision to a law or constitution.
From Old French 'amendement' (correction, improvement), from 'amender' (to correct, to improve, to make better), from Latin 'ēmendāre' (to free from fault, to correct), from 'ex-' (out of) + 'mendum' or 'menda' (fault, error, defect). The shift from 'emend' to 'amend' occurred in French, where the prefix was reinterpreted. A constitutional amendment is etymologically a 'removal of fault' from the fundamental law. Key
The words 'amend,' 'emend,' and 'mend' are all from the same Latin root 'mendum' (fault). 'Emend' is the learned form used for correcting texts; 'amend' is the common form used for correcting behavior or laws; 'mend' is the shortened native form used for repairing physical objects. Three words, one root