Ameland (ä′me-la˙nt), an island off the north coast of Holland, 13 miles long and 3 broad; flat; inhabitants (about 2000 in number) chiefly engaged in fishing and agriculture.
Amélie-les-Bains (a˙-mā-lē-lā-ban˙), a village of France, department Pyrénées-Orientales, frequented as a winter residence for invalids, and for its warm sulphureous springs. The place was known to the Romans, as it has been proved by the discovery of Roman medals there.
Amen (ā-men′), a Hebrew word, signifying 'verily', 'truly', transferred from the religious
language of the Jews to that of the Christians, and used at the end of prayers as equivalent to 'so be it', 'may this be granted'.
Amend′ment, a proposal brought forward in a meeting of some public or other body, either in order to get an alteration introduced into some proposal already before the meeting, or entirely to overturn such proposal. In Parliament an amendment denotes an alteration made in the original draft of a Bill whilst it is passing through the houses. Amendments may be made so as totally to alter the nature of the proposition; and this is a way of getting rid of a proposition, by making it bear a sense different from what was intended by the movers, who are thus compelled to abandon it.
Ameno′phis (or Amenhotep) III, a king of ancient Egypt about 1500 B.C.; warred successfully against Syrians and Ethiopians; built magnificent temples and palaces at Thebes, where the so-called Memnon statue is a statue of this king. He was the only Egyptian king deified during his lifetime.
Amenorrhœ′a, absence or suspension of menstruation. The former may arise from general debility or from defective development, the latter from exposure to cold, from attacks of fever or other ailment, violent excitement, &c.
Amenta′ceæ, an order of plants having their flowers arranged in amenta or catkins; now broken up into several orders, the chief of which are Betulaceæ (the birch), Salicaceæ (the willow), Fagaceæ (the beech), Juglandaceæ (the walnut), and Myricaceæ (bog-myrtle).
Amen′tia, imbecility from birth, especially when extreme; idiocy.
