ament

[ am-uhnt, ey-muhnt ]

/ ˈæm ənt, ˈeɪ mənt /

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noun Botany.

catkin.

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a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness

an imaginary, undying flower

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Origin of ament

1785–95; <New Latin, Latin āmentum strap, thong

Words nearby ament

amenorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome, amenorrhoea, Amen-Ra, a mensa et thoro, amensalism, ament, amentaceous, amentia, amentiferous, Amer., Amerasian

Other definitions for ament (2 of 2)

ament²

[ ey-ment, ey-muhnt ]

/ ˈeɪ mɛnt, ˈeɪ mənt /

noun

a person who has amentia.

Origin of ament

1890–95; <Latin āment- (stem of āmēns out of one's mind, mad), equivalent to ā-a-⁴ + ment-;see mental¹

OTHER WORDS FROM ament

a·men·tal

[ey-men-tl], /eɪˈmɛn tl/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use ament in a sentence

Sam's two years at Ament's were now complete, and Orion induced him to take employment on the Journal.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
At Ament's he generally had a daily task, either of composition or press-work, after which he was free.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
I got one suit and took the rest out in Ament's old garments, which didn't fit me in any noticeable way.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
When he had been with Ament little more than a year Sam had become office favorite and chief standby.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine

Then it suddenly developed that the cable report had "grossly exaggerated" the amount of Mr. Ament's collections.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine

British Dictionary definitions for ament (1 of 2)

ament¹

/ (ˈæmənt, ˈeɪmənt) /

noun

another name for catkin Also called: amentum (əˈmɛntəm)

Derived forms of ament

amentaceous, adjectiveamentiferous, adjective

Word Origin for ament

C18: from Latin āmentum strap, thong

British Dictionary definitions for ament (2 of 2)

ament²

/ (æˈmɛnt, ˈeɪmənt) /

noun

psychiatry a mentally deficient person

Word Origin for ament

C19: from Latin āment-, āmens without mind; see amentia

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

Medical definitions for ament

ament

[ ā′mĕnt′, ā′mənt ]

A person whose intellectual capacity remains undeveloped.

Scientific definitions for ament

ament

[ ăm′ənt, ā′mənt ]

See catkin.