mends
English
Etymology
From mend (noun, verb) + -s (suffix forming pluralia tantum, regular plurals of nouns, and the third-person singular indicative present tense of verbs).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /mɛndz/
Audio (General American): (file) - Rhymes: -ɛndz
Noun
mends pl (plural only)
- Synonym of amends.
- (chiefly Scotland) Recompense; restoration or reparation, especially (Christianity) from sin.
- (obsolete)
- Something given as compensation.
- (chiefly Scotland) A means of making restoration or reparation; a remedy.
- c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], line 69:
- she has the mends in her own hands.
- (Northern England, Scotland) Repair, restoration; also, healing, recovery.
Derived terms
- into the mends, to the mends (Scotland, obsolete)
Translations
synonym of amends — see amends
Noun
mends
- plural of mend
Verb
mends
- third-person singular simple present indicative of mend