The verb amend refers to solving a defect or repairing something . For example: "The main challenge facing the government is to amend the public accounts" , "The leaders of both countries intend to mend the link" , "There are mistakes from the past that unfortunately cannot be amended" .
The action of amending can refer to a physical (material) or abstract (symbolic) arrangement. Suppose a child falls while playing soccer and his pants tear at the level of his left knee. His mother, faced with this situation, decides to mend the pants by sewing a patch of fabric over the tear. In this framework, the amendment represents a material reparation.
If we stop for a few moments on this meaning, we can say that the verb amend is defined as "remove defects , fix or correct certain damages." When used in relation to a piece of clothing, it is also possible to appeal to its synonym mend , which is often confused with the first in everyday speech.
The verb mend , for its part, is defined as "to reinforce with a piece of cloth or other material something that is broken or old, particularly a piece of clothing." It can also mean "to stitch a part that is worn or holey, to reinforce or cover it." The piece of cloth used in these cases is known as a "patch."
In other contexts, the act of amending cannot be associated with something concrete or physical. Take the case of a father who feels that, by focusing on his work , he is neglecting his relationship with his teenage son. Willing to correct this defect, the man begins to get closer to the young man, sharing talks and outings. As can be seen, the solution to the problem does not materialize in a particular object.
In the marine field, it is known as amending the change in the anchorage or course according to the needs of the vessel. When amending, therefore, another place to anchor or a different direction is chosen.
The term anchorage is used to define the place of a bay, a river or a port, among others, in which the ship 's anchors can be adequately held, due to the depth of its bottom, its nature and its quality. , in addition to the fact that it is sheltered from some winds. On hydrographic plans, for example, it is indicated by the abbreviation Fond.° or, more frequently, by the drawing of an inclined anchor.
An amendment , finally, is a proposal that seeks to amend a bill or law . Said proposal must be treated within the framework of a certain procedure to define its approval or rejection.
In the field of Law , the concept of amendment is understood as a change that is made to an official document, especially to bills, texts and articles of laws. In the same way, some constitutional reforms , such as those made in the Constitution of the United States, or some alterations to international treaties, can be called an amendment.
Needless to say, amending an official document is not a quick or easy procedure, but must go through different phases and be supervised by certain authorities. In fact, a proposed amendment does not always receive approval from those who review it. This procedure is different in each country and also depending on the regulation that you intend to modify: its content, its form and the way in which the proposal is approved may vary, for example.