Etymology dictionary

amalgamation (n.) — amicable (adj.)

amalgamation (n.)

1610s, "act of compounding mercury with another metal," noun of action from archaic amalgam (v.) "to alloy with mercury" (see amalgamate). The figurative, non-chemical sense of "a combining of different things into one uniform whole" is attested from 1775. Especially of the union or merger of corporations under one direction.

amalgamize (v.)

1590s, "reduce to a soft mass by combination with mercury," from amalgam + -ize. Related: Amalgamized; amalgamizing.

Amanda

fem. proper name, literally "worthy to be loved," fem. of Latin amandus "pleasing," gerundive of amare "to love" (see Amy). A top 10 list name for girls born in U.S. between 1976 and 1995.

amanuensis (n.)

"one who takes dictation or copies what is written by another," 1610s, from Latin amanuensis "adjective used as a noun," an alteration of (servus) a manu "secretary," literally "servant from the hand;" from a for ab "from, of," here used as a designation of office (see ab-), + manu, ablative of manus "hand" (from PIE root *man- (2) "hand"). With -ensis, for which see -ese.

amaranth (n.)

1610s, from French amarante, from Latin amarantus/amaranthus, from Greek amarantos, name of a mythical unfading flower, literally "unfading, undecaying," from a- "not" (see a- (3)) + stem of marainein "die away, waste away, decay, wither; quench, extinguish," from PIE root *mer- "to rub away, harm" (also "to die" and forming words referring to death and to beings subject to death).

In classical use, a poet's word for an imaginary flower that never fades. It was applied in botany to a genus of ornamental plants 1550s. The ending has been influenced by plant names from unrelated Greek -anthos "flower."

amaranthine (adj.)

1660s, "unfading, undying," poetic (apparently coined by Milton), also amarantine; see amaranth, the name of a mythical unfading flower, + -ine (1). From late 19c. in reference to a purple color similar to that of the (non-mythical) flowers of the ornamental plant so-called by botanists.

Amaretto

Italian almond-flavored liqueur, 1945 (the original brand, Amaretto di Saronno, dates to 1851), from the Italian word for almond (q.v.), which did not acquire the unetymological -l- of its English cousin. It is sometimes confused with amoretto. Amoroso (literally "lover") as the name of a type of sweetened sherry is attested from c. 1870.

amarillo (n.)

name of several species of American trees, from Spanish, from Arabic anbari "yellow, amber-colored," from anbar "amber" (see amber). The city Amarillo in Texas, U.S., may be so called from the color of the banks of a nearby stream.

amaryllis (n.)

autumn-flowering bulb, 1794, adopted by Linnaeus from Latin, from Greek Amaryllis, a typical name of a country girl or shepherdess (in Theocritus, Virgil, Ovid, etc.), from amaryssein "to sparkle, twinkle, glance," as the eye, a word which according to Beekes "may well be of Pre-Greek origin."

amass (v.)

late 15c., "to heap up for oneself," from Old French amasser "bring together, assemble, accumulate" (12c.), from à "to" (see ad-) + masser, from masse "lump, heap, pile" (from PIE root *mag- "to knead, fashion, fit"). Related: Amassed; amassing; amassable.

amastia (n.)

"complete failure of one or both breasts, including the nipple, to develop," 1878, medical Latin, from German amastia (1841), from Greek amastos "without breasts," from privative prefix a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + mastos "breast" (see masto-) + abstract noun ending -ia.

amaterialistic (adj.)

"opposed to materialism or materialistic philosophy," 1878, from a- (3) "not" + materialistic.

amateur (n.)

1784, "one who has a taste for some art, study, or pursuit, but does not practice it," from French amateur "one who loves, lover" (16c., restored from Old French ameour), from Latin amatorem (nominative amator) "lover, friend," agent noun from amatus, past participle of amare "to love" (see Amy).

The meaning "one who cultivates and participates (in something) but does not pursue it professionally or with an eye to gain" (as opposed to professional) is from 1786; often with disparaging suggestions of "dabbler, dilettante," but not in athletics, where the disparagement shaded the professional, at least formerly. As an adjective, by 1838.

amateurish (adj.)

"having the faults and deficiencies of a non-professional," 1863; from amateur + -ish. Related: Amateurishly; amateurishness.

amatory (adj.)

1590s, "pertaining to love, expressive of love" (especially sexual love), from Latin amatorius "loving, amorous," from amat-, past-participle stem of amare "to love" (see Amy). Related: Amatorial.

amazement (n.)

1590s, "mental stupefaction, state of being astonished," from amaze + -ment. The meaning "overwhelming wonder" is attested from c. 1600.

amaze (v.)

"overwhelm or confound with sudden surprise or wonder," 1580s, a back-formation from Middle English amased "stunned, dazed, bewildered," (late 14c.), earlier "stupefied, irrational, foolish" (c. 1200), from Old English amasod, from a- (1), probably used here as an intensive prefix, + *mæs (see maze). Related: Amazed; amazing.

amazing (adj.)

early 15c., "stupefactive;" 1590s, "dreadful;" present-participle adjective from amaze. The sense of "wonderful" is recorded from 1704. Related: Amazingly; amazingness.

Amazon (n.)

late 14c., "one of a race of female warriors in Scythia," via Old French (13c.) or Latin, from Greek Amazon (mostly in plural Amazonēs), probably from an unknown non-Indo-European word, or possibly from an Iranian compound *ha-maz-an- "(one) fighting together" [Watkins]. But in folk etymology it has been long derived from a- "without" + mazos, variant of mastos "breast;" hence the story that the Amazons cut or burned off one breast so they could draw bowstrings more efficiently.

It was also used generally in early Modern English of female warriors; strong, tall, or masculine women; and the queen in chess.

The river in South America (originally called by the Spanish Rio Santa Maria de la Mar Dulce) was rechristened with this name by Francisco de Orellana, 1541, after an encounter with female warriors of the Tapuyas (or, as some say, beardless, long-haired male tribesmen). Others hold that the river name is a corruption of a native word in Tupi or Guarani meaning "wave."

Amazonian (adj.)

"bold, warlike," generally of women, 1590s, from Amazon + -ian. From 1847 in reference to the River Amazon.

ambage (n.)

late 14c., "winding or roundabout way, especially in speaking," usually plural, from Old French ambages, from Latin ambages "circumlocutions" (see ambagious).

ambagious (adj.)

"winding, devious, circuitous," 1650s, from French ambagieux, from Latin ambagiosus, from ambages "circuits, avoidings, circumlocutions," from amb- "around" (from PIE root *ambhi- "around") + agere "to set in motion, drive; to do, perform; keep in movement" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move").

ambassador (n.)

late 14c., also embassador, "diplomatic emissary of a ruler in the court of another," from Old French embassator, ambassateor, which comes via Provençal or Old Spanish from Latin ambactus "a servant, vassal," from Celtic amb(i)actos "a messenger, servant" (from PIE root *ambhi- "around" + *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move").

Compare embassy. Forms in am- and em- were used indiscriminately in English 17c.-18c. Until 1893 the United States sent and received none, having only ministers (often called ambassadors), who represented the state, not the sovereign.

ambassadorial (adj.)

"of or belonging to an ambassador," 1759, from ambassador + -al (1).

amber (n.)

mid-14c., ambre grice "ambergris; perfume made from ambergris," from the phrase in Old French (13c.) and Medieval Latin, from Arabic 'anbar "ambergris, morbid secretion of sperm-whale intestines used in perfumes and cookery" (see ambergris), which was introduced in the West at the time of the Crusades. Arabic -nb- often is pronounced "-mb-."

In Europe, the word amber was extended to fossil resins from the Baltic (late 13c. in Anglo-Latin; c. 1400 in English), and this has become the main sense as the use of ambergris has waned. Perhaps the perceived connection is that both were found washed up on seashores. Or perhaps it is a different word entirely, of unknown origin. Formerly they were distinguished as white or yellow amber for the Baltic fossil resin and ambergris "gray amber;" French distinguished the two substances as ambre gris and ambre jaune.

Remarkable for its static electricity properties, Baltic amber was known to the Romans as electrum (compare electric). Amber as an adjective in English is from c. 1500; as a color name 1735. In the Old Testament it translates Hebrew chashmal, a shining metal.

ambergris (n.)

early 15c., from Old French ambre gris "gray amber," "a wax-like substance of ashy colour, found floating in tropical seas, a morbid secretion from the intestines of the sperm-whale. Used in perfumery, and formerly in cookery" [OED], via Medieval Latin from Arabic 'anbar (see amber).

Its origin was known to Constantinus Africanus (obit c. 1087), but it was a mystery in Samuel Johnson's day, and he records nine different theories; "What sort of thing is Ambergrease?" was a type of a puzzling question beyond conjecture. King Charles II's favorite dish was said to be eggs and ambergris [Macauley, "History of England"].

French gris is from Frankish *gris or some other Germanic source (cognates: Dutch grijs, Old High German gris; see gray (adj.)).

*ambhi-

also *mbhi-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "around;" probably derived from *ant-bhi "from both sides," from root *ant- "front, forehead."

It forms all or part of: abaft; about; alley (n.1) "open passage between buildings;" ambagious; ambassador; ambi-; ambidexterity; ambidextrous; ambience; ambient; ambiguous; ambit; ambition; ambitious; amble; ambulance; ambulant; ambulate; ambulation; ambulatory; amphi-; amphibian; Amphictyonic; amphisbaena; Amphiscians; amphitheater; amphora; amputate; amputation; ancillary; andante; anfractuous; be-; begin; beleaguer; between; bivouac; but; by; circumambulate; embassy; ember-days; funambulist; ombudsman; perambulate; perambulation; preamble; somnambulate; somnambulism; umlaut.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit abhitah "on both sides," abhi "toward, to;" Avestan aibi; Greek amphi "round about;" Latin ambi- "around, round about;" Gaulish ambi-, Old Irish imb- "round about, about;" Old Church Slavonic oba; Lithuanian abu "both;" Old English ymbe, German um "around."

ambi-

word-forming element meaning "both, on both sides," from Latin ambi- "around, round about" (before vowels amb-, also sometimes reduced to am-, an-), from PIE root *ambhi- "around," which is probably an ablative plural (*ant-bhi "from both sides") of *ant- "front, forehead."

ambiance (n.)

1923, a reborrowing of the French form of ambience (q.v.), used in art writing as a term meaning "atmospheric effect of an arrangement."

ambidexterity (n.)

"faculty of using both hands with equal facility," 1650s, with -ity + Medieval Latin ambidexter, literally "right-handed on both sides," from ambi- "both, on both sides" (see ambi-) + dexter "right-handed" (from PIE root *deks- "right; south").

ambidextrous (adj.)

also ambidexterous, "able to use both hands equally," 1640s, with -ous + Medieval Latin ambidexter, literally "right-handed on both sides," from ambi- "both, on both sides" (see ambi-) + dexter "right-handed" (from PIE root *deks- "right; south"). An earlier English use of ambidexter (adj.) meant "double-dealer, one who takes both sides in a conflict" (late 14c.).

Its opposite, ambilevous "left-handed on both sides," hence "clumsy" (1640s) is rare. Ambidexter as a noun is attested from 1530s (in the sense "one who takes bribes from both sides") and is the earliest form of the word in English; its sense of "one who uses both hands equally well" appears by 1590s.

Ambien

trade name for prescription medication Zolpidem, which is used to treat insomnia, registered 1993 in U.S., no doubt suggested by ambient or words like it in French.

ambience (n.)

1797, "environmental surroundings," used as a term in art for the arrangements that support the main effect of the piece, from French ambiance "atmosphere, mood, character, quality, tone," from Latin ambiens "a going around," present participle of ambire "to go around," from amb- "around" (from PIE root *ambhi- "around") + ire "go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). The notion of "going all around" led to the sense of "encircling, lying all around." Compare ambiance.

ambient (adj.)

1590s, "surrounding, encircling," from Latin ambientem (nominative ambiens) "a going around," present participle of ambire "to go around, go about," from amb- "around" (from PIE root *ambhi- "around") + ire "go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). The notion of "going all around" led to the sense of "encircling, lying all around."

ambiguity (n.)

c. 1400, "uncertainty, doubt, indecision, hesitation," from Old French ambiguite and directly from Latin ambiguitatem (nominative ambiguitas) "double meaning, equivocalness, double sense," noun of state from ambiguus "having double meaning, doubtful" (see ambiguous). The meaning "obscurity in description" is from early 15c.

ambiguous (adj.)

"of doubtful or uncertain nature, open to various interpretations," 1520s, from Latin ambiguus "having double meaning, shifting, changeable, doubtful," an adjective derived from ambigere "to dispute about, contend, debate," literally "to wander, go about, go around," figuratively "hesitate, waver, be in doubt," from ambi- "about" (from PIE root *ambhi- "around") + agere "drive, lead, act" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move"). The English word is first attested in Sir Thomas More (1528); related ambiguity dates to c. 1400. Related: Ambiguously; ambiguousness.

ambisexuality (n.)

"bisexuality, androgynousness," 1916, from ambisexual + -ity.

ambisexual (adj.)

"unisex" (of clothing), also "bisexual," 1912 in the jargon of psychology, from ambi- + sexual. Ambosexous (1650s) and ambosexual (1935) both were used in the sense "hermaphrodite." Ambisextrous is recorded from 1929 as a humorous coinage based on ambidextrous.

ambit (n.)

late 14c., "space surrounding a building or town; precinct;" 1590s, "a circuit;" from Latin ambitus "a going round, a circuit, circumference," noun use of past participle of ambire "to go around, go about," from amb- "around" (from PIE root *ambhi- "around") + ire "go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go").

ambition (n.)

mid-14c., ambicioun, "eager or inordinate desire for honor or preferment," from Old French ambicion (13c.), or directly from Latin ambitionem (nominative ambitio) "a going around," especially to solicit votes, hence "a striving for favor, courting, flattery; a desire for honor, thirst for popularity," noun of action from past-participle stem of ambire "to go around, go about," from amb- "around" (from PIE root *ambhi- "around") + ire "go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go").

Rarely used in English or Latin the literal sense. In early use in English always pejorative, of inordinate or overreaching desire; ambition was grouped with pride and vainglory, and sometimes meant little more than "arrogance." The neutral or positive senses are modern. The meaning "object of strong desire" is from c. 1600.

ambitious (adj.)

late 14c., ambicious, "craving, yearning, overambitious," from Latin ambitiosus "eager for public office, eager to win favor, ingratiating," from ambitio "a going around (to solicit votes)," noun of action from past-participle stem of ambire "to go around, go about," from amb- "around" (from PIE root *ambhi- "around") + ire "go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go"). The meaning "springing from ambition" is by 1751. Related: Ambitiously; ambitiousness.

ambivalent (adj.)

"having simultaneous conflicting feelings or contradictory ideas about something," 1916, originally a term in psychology; a back-formation from ambivalence. In general use by 1929.

ambivalence (n.)

"simultaneous conflicting feelings," 1924 (by 1912 as ambivalency), from German Ambivalenz, coined 1910 by Swiss psychologist Eugen Bleuler on the model of German Equivalenz "equivalence," etc. (for which see equivalence), from Latin ambi- "both, on both sides" (see ambi-) + valentia "strength," an abstract noun from the present participle of valere "be strong" (from PIE root *wal- "to be strong"). A psychological term that by 1929 had taken on a broader literary and general sense.

ambivert (n.)

"person exhibiting features of an extrovert and an introvert," coined by Kimball Young in "Source Book for Social Psychology" (1927), from ambi- "about, around" + -vert (as in earlier introvert), which is ultimately from Latin vertere "to turn" (see versus). Related: Ambiversion.

amble (n.)

"an easy walking gait (of a horse), the gait of a horse when both legs on one side are in motion at the same time," late 14c., from Old French amble, from ambler "go at a steady, easy pace" (see amble (v.)). Of persons by c. 1600.

amble (v.)

"to move easily and gently without hard shocks," as a horse does when it first lifts the two legs on one side and then the two on the other, early 14c., from Old French ambler, in reference to a horse or other quadruped, "go at a steady, easy pace" (12c.), from Latin ambulare "to walk, to go about, take a walk," perhaps a compound of ambi- "around" (from PIE root *ambhi- "around") and -ulare, from a Proto-Italic *ala- "to wander," from PIE root *el- "to go" (source also of Greek ale "wandering," alaomai "wander about;" Latvian aluot "go around or astray"), as per de Vaan. Until 1590s used only of horses or persons on horseback. Related: Ambled; ambling.

ambler (n.)

"a horse which ambles; a person who ambles," late 14c., agent noun from amble (v.).

amblosis (n.)

"abortion, miscarriage," 1706, Modern Latin, from Greek amblōsis "miscarriage," noun of action from amblōesthai "to come to nought," which is of uncertain origin; perhaps it is somehow related to amblys "blunt, dull, weak." Related: Amblotic.

amblyopia (n.)

1706, "weakening of the eyesight without any apparent defect in the eyes," medical Latin, from Greek amblyōpia "dim-sightedness," noun of action from ōps "eye" (from PIE root *okw- "to see") + amblys "dulled, blunt," a word of uncertain origin; according to Watkins possibly from a suffixed form of PIE root *mel- (1) "soft." With abstract noun ending -ia. Related: Amblyopic.

Ambrose

masc. proper name, from Latin Ambrosius, from Greek ambrosios "immortal, belonging to the immortals" (see ambrosia). The Ambrosian Library in Milan, founded 1609 by Cardinal Borromeo, is named for Saint Ambrose (obit 397), bishop of Milan.

ambrosial (adj.)

1590s, "immortal, divine, of the quality of ambrosia;" see ambrosia + -al. The sense of "fragrant, delicious" is from 1660s. Other adjectives were ambrosiac (c. 1600); ambrosian (1630s).

ambrosia (n.)

1560s, "favored food or drink of the gods," from Latin ambrosia, from Greek ambrosia "food of the gods," noun use of fem. of ambrosios "divine," probably literally "of the immortals," from ambrotos "immortal, imperishable," from a- "not" (see a- (3)) + mbrotos, related to mortos "mortal," from PIE root *mer- "to rub away, harm" (also "to die" and forming words referring to death and to beings subject to death).

The name was applied to certain herbs by Pliny and Dioscorides; it has been used of various foods for mortals since 1680s (originally of fruit drinks); and was used figuratively for "anything delightful" by 1731.

ambrotype (n.)

type of photograph on glass with lights given by silver and shades by a dark background showing through, 1855, American English, apparently from Greek ambrotos "immortal, imperishable" (see ambrosia), with second element from daguerreotype.

ambulance (n.)

1798, "mobile or field hospital," from French ambulance, formerly (hôpital) ambulant (17c.), literally "walking (hospital)," from Latin ambulantem (nominative ambulans), present participle of ambulare "to walk, go about" (see amble).

The word was not common in English until the meaning transferred from "field hospital" to "vehicle for conveying wounded from the field" (1854) during the Crimean War. It was extended early 20c. to vehicles to transport the sick or wounded in civilian life. In late 19c. U.S. the same word was used dialectally to mean "prairie wagon." Ambulance-chaser as a contemptuous term for a type of lawyer is by 1897.

ambulant (adj.)

1610s, "walking, moving from place to place," from Latin ambulantem (nominative ambulans), present participle of ambulare "to walk, go about" (see amble (v.)). Of diseases, denoting cases in which the patient may be up and around, by 1913.

ambulate (v.)

"to walk, move about," 1620s, a back-formation from ambulation, or else from Latin ambulatus, past participle of ambulare "to walk, go about" (see amble (v.)). Related: Ambulated; ambulating.

ambulation (n.)

"act of walking about," 1570s, from Latin ambulationem (nominative ambulatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of ambulare "to walk, go about" (see amble (v.)). The word was used earlier in reference to the spread of disease (1540s).

ambulatory (adj.)

1620s, "pertaining to walking;" also "movable; shifting, not permanent," from Latin ambulatorius "pertaining to a walker; movable," from ambulator, agent noun from past-participle stem of ambulare "to walk, go about" (see amble (v.)). Middle English had ambulary "movable" (mid-15c.). Related: Ambulatorial.

ambulatory (n.)

"part of a building intended for walking," 1620s, from Medieval Latin ambulatorium, from Latin ambulatorius "movable, of or pertaining to a walker," from ambulare "to walk, go about" (see amble (v.)).

Amelia

fem. proper name, Latin, but said to be of Germanic origin and mean literally "laborious" (cognates: Old Norse ama "to trouble"); the name was assimilated with Roman gens name Aemilia.

ameliorative (adj.)

"tending to make better," 1796, from ameliorate + -ive.

amelioration (n.)

1650s, "a making or becoming better," from French amélioration, from Old French ameillorer (12c.), from a "to" (see ad-) + meillior (Modern French meìlleur) "to better, repair, improve," from Late Latin meliorare "improve," from Latin melior "better," perhaps originally "stronger" (from PIE root *mel- (2) "strong, great").

ameliorate (v.)

1728, "to make better," in some cases perhaps a back-formation from amelioration on pattern of French améliorer, or else from Medieval Latin amelioratus, past participle of ameliorare. The intransitive sense of "grow better" is by 1789. The simpler form meliorate was used in Middle English. Related: Ameliorated; ameliorating; ameliorable.

amen (interj.)

Old English, from Late Latin amen, from Ecclesiastical Greek amen, from Hebrew amen "truth," used adverbially as an expression of agreement (as in Deuteronomy xxvii.26, I Kings i.36), from Semitic root a-m-n "to be trustworthy, confirm, support."

Compare similar use of Modern English certainly, absolutely. Used in Old English only at the end of Gospels, otherwise translated as Soðlic! or Swa hit ys, or Sy! As an expression of concurrence after prayers, it is recorded from early 13c. Amen corner is attested from 1860.

amenability (n.)

"amenableness, liability to answer, disposition to respond to," 1761; see amenable + -ity.

amenableness (n.)

"liability to answer, disposition to respond to," 1830, from amenable + -ness.

amenable (adj.)

1590s, "liable to make answer or defense, accountable," from Anglo-French amenable, from Old French amener "bring, take, conduct, lead" (to the law), from "to" (see ad-) + mener "to lead," from Latin minare "to drive (cattle) with shouts," variant of minari "to threaten," also "to jut, project" (from PIE root *men- (2) "to project"). The sense of "tractable" is from 1803, on the notion of "disposed to answer or submit to influence." Related: Amenably.

amenity (n.)

late 14c., "quality of being pleasant or agreeable," from Latin amoenitatem (nominative amoenitas) "delightfulness, pleasantness," from amoenus "pleasant," which is perhaps related to amare "to love" (see Amy).

amenities (n.)

"creature comforts of a town, house, etc." 1908, plural of amenity. Latin amoena, plural of amoenus, also was used as a noun with a sense of "pleasant places."

amendable (adj.)

1580s, "capable of correction or repair;" see amend + -able. Related: Amendability.

amends (n.)

early 14c., "recompense, compensation for loss or injury," collective singular, from Old French amendes "fine, penalty, reparation, compensation," plural of amende "reparation," from amender "to amend" (see amend).

amend (v.)

early 13c., amenden, "to free from faults, rectify," from Old French amender "correct, set right, make better, improve" (12c.), from Latin emendare "to correct, free from fault," from ex "out" (see ex-) + menda, mendum "fault, physical blemish; error," from PIE *mend- "physical defect, fault" (source also of Sanskrit minda "physical blemish," Old Irish mennar "stain, blemish," Welsh mann "sign, mark;" Hittite mant- "something harming").

The spelling with a- is unusual but early and also is found in Provençal and Italian. In English, the word has been supplanted in senses of "repair; cure" by its shortened offspring mend (v.). The meaning "to add to legislation" (ostensibly to correct or improve it) is recorded from 1777. Related: Amended; amending.

amendment (n.)

early 13c., "betterment, improvement;" c. 1300, of persons, "correction, reformation," from Old French amendement "rectification, correction; advancement, improvement," from amender "to amend" (see amend). The sense expanded 17c. to include "correction of error in a legal process" (c. 1600) and "alteration of a writ or bill" to remove its faults (1690s).

amenorrhea (n.)

"suppression of menstruation, especially from a cause other than age or pregnancy," 1804, Modern Latin, from Greek privative prefix a- "not" (see a- (3)) + men "month" (see moon (n.)) + rhein "to flow" (from PIE root *sreu- "to flow"). Related: amenorrheal.

ament (n.)

"person born an idiot," 1894, from Latin amentia "madness," from amentem "mad," from a for ab "away from" (see a- (2)) + mentem "mind" (from PIE root *men- (1) "to think").

amentia (n.)

"mental deficiency," late 14c., from Latin amentia "madness," from amentem "mad," from a for ab "away from" (see a- (2)) + mentem "mind" (from PIE root *men- (1) "to think") + abstract noun ending -ia.

Amerasian

1966, noun and adjective, from American + Asian; coined in reference to children fathered by U.S. servicemen stationed in Asia during the Cold War.

amerce (v.)

"punishment by arbitrary or discretionary fine," 1215, earlier amercy, Anglo-French amercier "to fine," from merci "mercy, grace" (see mercy). The legal phrase estre a merci "to be at the mercy of" (a tribunal, etc.) was corrupted to estre amercié, a good example of how an adverbial phrase in legalese tends to become a verb (compare abandon).

Related: Amercement; amerciable/amerceable.

America

1507, "the western hemisphere, North and South America," in Cartographer Martin Waldseemüller's treatise "Cosmographiae Introductio," from Modern Latin Americanus, traditionally after Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) who made two trips to the New World as a navigator and claimed to have discovered it. His published works put forward the idea that it was a new continent, and he was first to call it Novus Mundus "New World." Amerigo is more easily Latinized than Vespucci (Latin Vesputius, which might have yielded place-name Vesputia). The sense in English naturally was restricted toward the British colonies, then the United States.

The man's name Amerigo is Germanic, said to derive from Gothic Amalrich, literally "work-ruler." The Old English form of the name has come down as surnames Emmerich, Emery, etc. The Italian fem. form merged into Amelia.

The colloquial pronunciation "Ameri-kay" is by at least 1643 in poetry that (in one later collection) rhymed America with away, pray, obey, gay, dismay, decay, etc. The unstressed syllable and the short vowel make problems at the end of a metrical line (modern popular US national songs and hymns tend to keep the word America away from line-ends). Africa got the same treatment, "Afri-kay," and sometimes Britannia. America continued to be so rhymed through mid-19c in popular patriotic songs.* The same pronunciation, spelled out, became popular from 1830s as representing an Irish way of speaking the name.

Amerika "U.S. society viewed as racist, fascist, oppressive, etc." is attested from 1969; the spelling is German but it also might suggest the KKK.

* With occasional rhymes on me, be, as though "Ameri-kee," and Waller in 1664 seems to want to rhyme it with saw ["Of a War with Spain and a Fight at Sea"].

American (n.)

1570s, originally "one of the aboriginal peoples discovered in the Western Hemisphere by Europeans," from Modern Latin Americanus, from America (q.v.). The original sense is now Native Americans; the sense of "resident of North America of European (originally British) descent" is from 1765.

Americanism (n.)

1781, in reference to words or phrases used in North America and distinct from British use, coined by John Witherspoon, president of Princeton College, from American + -ism. (American English "English language as spoken in the United States" is recorded by 1806, in Webster.) Americanism in the sense "attachment to or preference for the U.S." is attested by 1797 in the writings of Thomas Jefferson.

Americanization (n.)

"the act or process of becoming more American in character or nature," 1816, noun of state or action from Americanize.

Americanize (v.)

"render American in character," 1797, from American + -ize. Related: Americanized; Americanizing.

American (adj.)

1590s, "pertaining to the Western Hemisphere and its aboriginal inhabitants," from Modern Latin Americanus, from America (q.v.); the sense of "pertaining to the residents of North America of European (originally British) descent" is recorded by 1640s; later "pertaining to the United States." French Américain, Spanish and Italian Americano, German Amerikanisch. Fem. form Americaness attested from 1838. The American beauty rose so called from 1886. American English as a sub-language attested from 1806; Amerenglish is from 1974.

Americanness (n.)

"American quality, origination, or nature," 1860, from American (adj.) + -ness.

American dream

coined 1931 by James Truslow Adams (1878-1949), U.S. writer and popular historian (unrelated to the Massachusetts Adamses), in "Epic of America."

Others have used the term as they will.

Americano (n.)

"cup of weak or diluted coffee," especially espresso, short for café Americano (by 1964), from Spanish, literally "American coffee" (see American), a Central American term from the 1950s, a disparaging reference to the type of coffee believed to be favored in the United States.

americium (n.)

artificial radioactive element, 1946, from America + metallic element ending -ium.

Americo-

word-forming element used since late 18c. as "of or about America."

Amerind (n.)

1899, coined by Maj. John Wesley Powell at the Bureau of American Ethnology, where he was director, from American + Indian.

Amerindian (adj.)

1900; see Amerind, of which it is the derived adjective.

Ameslan (n.)

1972, rough acronym from American Sign Language, which was known by that name since 1960, but its history goes back to 1817, evolving from French Sign Language (introduced at American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Conn.) and indigenous sign languages, especially that of Martha's Vineyard. [See "Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language," Nora Ellen Groce, Harvard University Press, 1985]

amethyst (n.)

violet-colored quartz, late 13c., amatist, from Old French ametiste (12c., Modern French améthyste) and directly from Medieval Latin amatistus, from Latin amethystus, from Greek amethystos "amethyst," noun use of an adjective meaning "not intoxicating; not drunken," from a- "not" (see a- (3)) + methyskein "make drunk," from methys "wine" (from PIE root *medhu- "honey; mead;" see mead (n.1)).

The stone had a reputation among the ancients for preventing drunkenness; this was perhaps sympathetic magic suggested by its wine-like color. Beekes writes that the stone "was named after its color: the red of wine diluted with water such that it is no longer intoxicating." When drinking, people wore rings made of it to ward off the effects. The spelling was restored in early Modern English.

Amex

1970, contraction of American Express, a trademark registered in U.S. 1950 by American Express Co., originally an express mail service. Its credit card dates from 1958.

Amharic (n.)

principal language of Ethiopia, 1813, from Amhara, name of a central province in Ethiopia. It is in the Semitic family.

Amy

fem. proper name, from Old French Amee, literally "beloved," from fem. past participle of amer "to love," from Latin amare "to love, be in love with; find pleasure in," Proto-Italic *ama- "to take, hold," from a PIE root meaning "take hold of," also the source of Sanskrit amisi, amanti "take hold of; swear;" Avestan *ama- "attacking power;" Greek omnymi "to swear," anomotos "under oath;" Old Irish namae "enemy." According to de Vaan, "The Latin meaning has developed from 'to take the hand of' [to] 'regard as a friend'."

ami (n.)

"friend, lover," c. 1300, from Old French amy, ami "friend, lover, beloved; kinsman" (11c.), from Latin amicus "friend" (see Amy).

amiable (adj.)

late 14c., "kindly, friendly," also "worthy of love or admiration," from Old French amiable "pleasant, kind; worthy to be loved" (12c.), from Late Latin amicabilis "friendly," from Latin amicus "friend, loved one," noun use of an adjective, "friendly, loving," from amare "to love" (see Amy).

The form and sense were confused in Old French with amable "lovable" (from Latin amare "to love"), and by 16c. the English word also had a secondary sense of "exciting love or delight," especially by having an agreeable temper and a kind heart. The word was subsequently reborrowed by English in Latin form without the sense contamination as amicable.

amiability (n.)

"quality of being friendly and agreeable," 1779, from amiable + -ity. Amiableness is recorded from 1530s.

amicably (adv.)

"in a friendly manner, without controversy," 1630s, from amicable + -ly (2).

amicable (adj.)

early 15c., "pleasant," from Late Latin amicabilis "friendly," a word in Roman law, from Latin amicus "friend," ultimately from amare "to love" (see Amy). In modern use "characterized by friendliness, free from hard feelings, peaceable, socially harmonious." Compare amiable, which is the same word through French. Related: Amicableness.