Also 5 -ite, 7 -itie, 7–8 amœnity, amænity. [? a. Fr. amenité (in Cotgr., 1611), or perh. direct ad. of its original L. amœnitātem, f. amœn-us pleasant: see AMENE and -ITY.]
1. The quality of being pleasant or agreeable: a. of places, their situation, aspect, climate, etc.
1432–50. trans. Higden (1865), I. 77. That place hath also amenite.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 448. For amenity of situation … it doth farre excel all other cities.
1683. Brit. Spec., 17. The amœnity and Utility of its Seas, Rivers and Ponds.
1832. J. Austin, Jurispr. (1879), II. l. 858. The fiar may also cut and sell timber, so as not to injure the amenity.
1846. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., I. ii. 120. The superior amenity of the climate.
b. of persons, their habits, actions, etc.
1815. Mar. Edgeworth, Patron., xvii. 279. His manners wanted amenity, gaiety, and frankness.
1824. Dibdin, Libr. Comp., 90. Who does not love the amenity of Erasmus?
1873. Dixon, Two Queens, I. I. vii. 46. In amenity of life, his Court had been a Moorish rather than a Gothic Court.
† 2. Joyousness, exhilaration. Obs. rare.
1627. Feltham, Resolves, II. lxx. (1677), 307. The Amœnity and Floridness of the warm and spirited bloud.
3. concr. in pl. † a. Pleasant places or scenes. (Cf. pleasance.) Obs.
1664. Evelyn, Silva (1776), 604. Arboreous Amenities and plantations of woods. Ibid. (1671), Diary (1827), II. 354. The suburbs are large, the prospects sweete, with other amenities.
1762. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 140. A country so profusely beautified with the amænities of nature.
b. Pleasant ways or manners; pleasant pursuits, pleasures, delights, agreeable relations, civilities.
1841. D’Israeli (title), Amenities of authors.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. v. 234. This interchange of dainties led the way to the amenities of diplomacy.
1866. Cornh. Mag., Aug., 157. All the amenities of home life are wanting.
1883. Scotsman, 12 May, 9/7. Talking amenities with Sir Stafford Northcote.
