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amenity

 - 3 dictionary results

a⋅men⋅i⋅ty

[uh-men-i-tee, uh-mee-ni-]
–noun, plural -ties.
1. an agreeable way or manner; courtesy; civility: the graceful amenities of society.
2. any feature that provides comfort, convenience, or pleasure: The house has a swimming pool, two fireplaces, and other amenities.
3. the quality of being pleasing or agreeable in situation, prospect, disposition, etc.; pleasantness: the amenity of the Caribbean climate.
4. amenities, lavatory; bathroom: used as a euphemism.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME amenite < AF < L amoenitās, equiv. to amoen(us) pleasing + -itās -ity
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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a·men·i·ty   (ə-měn'ĭ-tē, ə-mē'nĭ-)   
n.   pl. a·men·i·ties
  1. The quality of being pleasant or attractive; agreeableness.

  2. Something that contributes to physical or material comfort.

  3. A feature that increases attractiveness or value, especially of a piece of real estate or a geographic location.

  4. amenities Social courtesies.


[Middle English amenite, from Old French, from Latin amoenitās, from amoenus, pleasant.]
Synonyms: These nouns denote something that increases physical ease or facilitates work: an apartment with amenities like air conditioning; a suite with all the comforts of home; a kitchen with every convenience; a school with excellent facilities.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

amenity 
1432, "quality of being pleasant or agreeable," from O.Fr. amenité, from L. amoenitatem (nom. amoenitas) "delightfulness, loveliness," from amoenus "pleasant," perhaps related to amare "to love." Meaning "creature comforts of a town, house, etc." (usually in pl.) first recorded 1908.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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