[a. L. (or Fr.) āmēn, a. Gr. ἀμήν, a. Heb. ā-mēn, ‘certainty, truth,’ f. vb. āman to strengthen, confirm; used adverbially ‘certainly, verily, surely’ as an expression of affirmation, consent, or ratification of what has been said by another (Deut. xxvii. 26, 1 Kings i. 36); adopted in Gr. by the LXX., whence in N.T., and in early Christian use, in Gr. and L., as a solemn expression of belief, affirmation, consent, concurrence, or ratification, of any formal utterance made by a representative; thus with prayers, imprecations, confessions of faith. App. not so used in OE., but transl. by Sóðlice!, Swá hit ys or sý! Added however as a concluding formula to Luke and John in the Ags. Gospels.]
A. int. or adv.
1. As a concluding formula (merely transferred from L.) = Finis.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xxiv. 53. Lofando & gebloedsando gód. Soðlice.
c. 1000. Ags. G., ibid. God herʓende & hyne eac bletsiʓende. Amen. [1611 Ibid. Praising and blessing God. Amen.]
2. A solemn expression of concurrence in, or ratification of, a prayer, or wish; Be it so really!
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 430. He beo euer i-heied from worlde to worlde, euer on ecchenesse! Amen.
c. 1300. in Wright, Lyric P., xv. 51. God us lene of ys lyht, That we of sontes habben syht, ant hevene to mede! Amen.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. vi. 13. But delyuere vs fro yuel. Amen, that is so be it.
a. 1400. Relig Pieces fr. Thornton MS., 37. Say we Amen, þat es to say swa be it.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lxxi. 19. Blessed be the name of his maiesty for euer … Amen, Amen.
1605. Shaks., Macb., II. ii. 28. I could not say, Amen, When they did say, God blesse vs.
1615. Bedwell, Moham. Imp., II. § 90. To morrow if God Almighty say, Amen, we will meet.
1859. Tennyson, Elaine, 1217. An end to this! A strange one! Yet I take it with Amen!
3. Of concurrence in a formal statement, confession of faith, etc.: It is so in truth.
[a. 1000. Creed, in Rel. Ant., I. 35. Ic ʓe-lyfe on þone halʓan gast … & þat éce lif. Sy it swa.]
c. 1220. Creed, in Morris, E. E. Hom., I. 217. Ibileue on ðe holi goste … eche lif efter deað; amen.
Nicene Creed, in Bk. Comm. Prayer. I believe in … the life of the world to come. Amen.
4. Retained in the Bible from the original Gr. or Heb.: Truly, verily.
c. 1382. Wyclif, 2 Cor. i. 20. Therefore and by him we seyn Amen to God, to oure ioye.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), John viii. 34, note. The Reader may see great reason why vve also say Amen. Amen, and durst not translate it.
1611. Bible, 2 Cor. i. 20. The promises of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen.
B. sb.
1. The word Amen! at the end of a prayer, etc.
c. 1230. Ancr. R., 24. And efter þe amen, ‘Per Dominum: benedicamus Domino.’
1597. T. Morley, Introd. Mus., 82. I finde no better word to say after a good praier, then Amen.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 285, ¶ 6. I have spoke the Assent to a Prayer with a long Amen.
1829. Southey, All for Love, IV. Wks. VII. 175. The Choristers, with louder voice, Intoned the last Amen!
2. An expression of assent; an assertion of belief.
1579. W. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 227. Be thou a member of the bodie of Christ, that thy Amen may be true.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. i. 24. Gard. I wish it grubb’d vp now. Lov. Me thinkes I could Cry the Amen.
1851. Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., 119. False doctrine, strangled by its own amen.
3. transf. Concluding word or act; conclusion. (Cf. Culorum in P. Pl., A. III. 264.).
1677. Hale, Contemp., II. 95. That such an act as this should be the Amen of my Life.
c. 1860. Chairman of Public Meeting (at Hawick):—‘You must hear the speaker to Amen, and then ask your questions.’
4. Retained in the Bible from the original, as a title of Christ; = The faithful one.
1388. Wyclif, Rev. iii. 14. Thes thinges seith Amen the feithful witnesse. 1611, ibid. These things saith the Amen, the faithfull and true witnesse.
1704. Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, II. ii. (1739), 478. Jesus, who is the truth is called Amen.
