amenities

English

Etymology

From French aménité, from Latin amoenitās (“pleasantness, delightfulness”), from amoenus (“pleasant, delightful”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈmɛn.ə.tiːz/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

amenities

1. plural of amenity

Noun

amenities pl (plural only)

1. The quality of being pleasant or agreeable, whether in respect to situation, climate, manners, disposition etc.

   Synonyms: pleasantness, civility, suavity, gentleness

   • 1917, Arthur Conan Doyle, His Last Bow:

     "I trust that you are as comfortable as circumstances permit," said Holmes when the final arrangements were made. "Should I be guilty of a liberty if I lit a cigar and placed it between your lips?"
     But all amenities were wasted upon the angry German.

   • 1934, Rex Stout, Fer-de-Lance, Bantam, published 1992, →ISBN, page 24:

     When we got to Sullivan Street Mrs. Ricci was waiting in front with a glare in her eye that made me decide not to stop for any amenities.

References

• “amenities”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “amenities”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.