EMENDATION

emendation (ee-men-day-sh[schwa]n). 1. Correction or revision, esp. of a text. 2. Hist. The correction of an error or wrongdoing; atonement for a criminal offense, esp. by the payment of money. • As criminal law developed over time, emendation by payment of wer or wite gradually faded away and was replaced by harsher punishments.