Amende

[Fr.; see amend.] In French, this word signifies a fine, by which reparation is supposed to be made for a fault committed. Its English synonym is the word AMENDS, q. v. A. honorable. [Fr.] An infamous kind of punishment formerly inflicted in France and in England on traitors, parricides, or sacrilegions persons, who were to go naked to the shirt, with a torch in their hand, and a rope about their neck, into a church or a court, to beg pardon of God, the court, and the injured party. - The modern acceptation of the term indicates that an open apology is made for an offence or injury done.