amenity

[uh-men-i-tee, uh-mee-ni-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR amenity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural a·men·i·ties.

an agreeable way or manner; courtesy; civility: the graceful amenities of society.

any feature that provides comfort, convenience, or pleasure: The house has a swimming pool, two fireplaces, and other amenities.

the quality of being pleasing or agreeable in situation, prospect, disposition, etc.; pleasantness: the amenity of the Caribbean climate.

amenities, lavatory; bathroom: used as a euphemism.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of amenity

1400–50; late Middle English amenite < Anglo-French < Latin amoenitās, equivalent to amoen(us) pleasing + -itās -ity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for amenity

Meanwhile, he enjoyed 202 High as the quintessence of youth's amenity.
Sinister Street, vol. 2|Compton Mackenzie
Sussex has not only individual quality, amenity and interest: all counties have them.
The London Mercury, Vol. I, Nos. 1-6, November 1919 to April 1920|Various
Thus impotently growling, the merchant prince retired from the field, escorted with amenity by the courtier.
Love Me Little, Love Me Long|Charles Reade
My friend showed himself very sensible of the beauty and amenity of the hour.
In the South Seas|Robert Louis Stevenson

This is an amenity of existence in Africa that strikes one as very terrible.
Library of the World's Best literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 12|Various

British Dictionary definitions for amenity

amenity

noun plural -ties

(often plural) a useful or pleasant facility or servicea swimming pool was just one of the amenities

the fact or condition of being pleasant or agreeable

(usually plural) a social courtesy or pleasantry

Word Origin for amenity

C14: from Latin amoenitās pleasantness, from amoenus agreeable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for amenity

amenity

late 14c., "quality of being pleasant or agreeable," from Old French amenite, from Latin amoenitatem (nominative amoenitas) "delightfulness, pleasantness," from amoenus "pleasant," perhaps related to amare "to love" (see Amy).