amnesty English · revision 1510

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1580}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæm.nɪ.sti/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|amnestie]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) from [[la|amnēstia]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from [[grc|ἀμνηστία|tr=amnēstía|t=forgetfulness, oblivion; amnesty]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[m|grc|ἀμνηστός|tr=amnēstos|t=forgotten]], from [[m|grc|ἀ-|tr=a-|t=not]] and [[m|grc|μνάομαι|tr=mnáomai|t=I remember]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Klein 1966) from [[ine-pro|*men-|t=to think]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD) It shares its root with [[amnesia]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A general pardon of past offences by the ruling authority, an “act of oblivion” (1580 in the OED and Merriam-Webster; 1570s in Etymonline; 1605 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Greek word meant forgetfulness, especially of wrong, as well as an amnesty,^(Etymonline)^(Skeat 1911) and in early English use the word also meant forgetfulness or intentional overlooking (1592).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Cresswell 2021) It is usually used of pardons for a class of offences against a government.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) The verb is from 1809.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''Amnesty International'', founded in 1961, campaigns for prisoners of conscience.^(OED 1989) In modern use an amnesty is also a period during which offenders may admit an offence, or hand in illegal items, without penalty.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1580 – a general pardon.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1592 – forgetfulness, oblivion (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1809 – verb, to grant an amnesty to.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1961 – ''Amnesty International''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A general [[pardon]] granted by a government, especially for political offences, often before any trial or conviction.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A period during which offenders may admit an offence without fear of prosecution.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' The voluntary overlooking of an offence.^(MWU 2024)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To grant an amnesty to; to pardon.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amnesia]]

+ * [[mnemonic]]

+ * [[mind]]

+ * [[pardon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}