Forms: 5–6 amytie, -tye, -te, -tey, amite, 6 amytee, -itee, -itye, 6–7 amitie, 6– amity. [a. Fr. amitié, 13th c. amistié, amisté, 11th c. amistet:—pop. L. *amīcitāt-em (= L. amīcitiam), f. amīc-us friend; cf. mendīcitāt-em f. mendīc-us: see -TY.] Friendship, friendliness; friendly relations; especially of a public character between states or individuals. a. sing.
1450[?]. in 3rd Rep. Comm. Hist. MSS. (1872), 279/2. The Frenshemen … enlarge their amite and their aliage to suche as were beste.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 80. Amytie is founded vpon honeste. Ibid. (1483), Gold. Leg., 137/4. Why wilt thou not abyde in our amyte?
1597. Cecil, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 234, III. 44. The auncient amitie betweene Spain and him.
1631. Heywood, England’s Eliz. (1641), 45. Two brothers … knit and joyned together in amitie.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scotl., I. IV. 290. She declared her resolution to live in perpetual amity with England.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. Ded. p. viii. Be careful to conduct all hostility, with the pleasing prospect that one day it will give place to the most perfect amity.
1868. G. Duff, Pol. Surv., 101. Treaties of amity and commerce.
b. pl. arch.
1477. Sir J. Paston, in Lett., 786, III. 173. The preservacion off the amyteys taken late … with Fraunce.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel., viii. E iv b/1. Suche … as should be admytted to strait amitees.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. ix. § 2 (1873), 130. All leagues and amities consist of mutual intelligence and mutual offices.
1739. Melmoth, Fitzosb. Lett. (1763), 43. Those little jealousies and rivalships that shoot up in the paths of common amities.
1815. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 264. The less we have to do with the amities or enmities of Europe, the better.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, VIII. i. 461. Ancient amities.
