Etymology Inherited from Middle English amen, from Old English āmen, from Ecclesiastical Latin āmēn, from Ancient Greek ἀμήν (amḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn, “certainly, verily”) (cognate with Arabic آمِينَ (ʔāmīna), Classical Syriac ܐܡܝܢ (ʾāmên)). In Old English, it was used only at the end of the Gospels; elsewhere, it was translated as sōþlīċe! (“truly, indeed!”), swā hit is (“so it is”), and sīe! (“[so] be it!”).
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At the end of a religious prayer: so be it.
As it was in the beginning, is nowe, and euerſhall be: worlde without ende. Amen.1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “At the Communion”, in The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC, folio lxxii, recto:
Alſo I ſhooke my lap, and ſaid, So God ſhake out euery man from his houſe, and from his labour, that performeth not this promiſe, euen thus be he ſhaken out, and emptied. And all the Congregation ſaid, Amen, and praiſed the Lord. And the people did according to this promiſe.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Nehemiah 5:13, column 1:
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Bleſſed be the Lord God, the God of Iſrael, who only doth wonderous things. And bleſſed be his glorious name for euer, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 72:18–19, column 1:
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.1662, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea”, in The Book of Common-Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, […], London: […] John Bill, and Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC, column 2:
May GOD, to Whom be praise and whose name be exalted, the King of Kings, vouchsafe His grace and may the Prophet Muhammed (on whom be the benediction and peace of GOD) grant His Blessings to this Proclamation. Amen! O Lord of the Universe!1962, Omar Ali Saifuddien III, Proclamation of Emergency, page 14:
Etymology Inherited from Middle English amen, from Old English āmen, from Ecclesiastical Latin āmēn, from Ancient Greek ἀμήν (amḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn, “certainly, verily”) (cognate with Arabic آمِينَ (ʔāmīna), Classical Syriac ܐܡܝܢ (ʾāmên)). In Old English, it was used only at the end of the Gospels; elsewhere, it was translated as sōþlīċe! (“truly, indeed!”), swā hit is (“so it is”), and sīe! (“[so] be it!”).
Iesvs anſvvered, Amen, Amen I ſay to thee, Vnles a man be borne againe of vvater and the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God.1582, English College of Rheims, transl., The New Testament of Jesus Christ, John 3:5, page 222:
amen
noun
Etymology Inherited from Middle English amen, from Old English āmen, from Ecclesiastical Latin āmēn, from Ancient Greek ἀμήν (amḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn, “certainly, verily”) (cognate with Arabic آمِينَ (ʔāmīna), Classical Syriac ܐܡܝܢ (ʾāmên)). In Old English, it was used only at the end of the Gospels; elsewhere, it was translated as sōþlīċe! (“truly, indeed!”), swā hit is (“so it is”), and sīe! (“[so] be it!”).
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An instance of saying ‘amen’.
The amens of the dusty clerk appear, like Macbeth’s, to stick in his throat a little; but Captain Cuttle helps him out, […]1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:
[H]is `Amens' were ejected at the pulpit with the severity of a reprimand.1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 12:
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A chorus of amens rang out across the audience.2006, Evault Boswell, The Iron Mountain Baby:
amen
verb
Etymology Inherited from Middle English amen, from Old English āmen, from Ecclesiastical Latin āmēn, from Ancient Greek ἀμήν (amḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn, “certainly, verily”) (cognate with Arabic آمِينَ (ʔāmīna), Classical Syriac ܐܡܝܢ (ʾāmên)). In Old English, it was used only at the end of the Gospels; elsewhere, it was translated as sōþlīċe! (“truly, indeed!”), swā hit is (“so it is”), and sīe! (“[so] be it!”).
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To say amen.
The moment Dr. Reid amened, we rushed straight out of the church off home.1942, Emily Carr, “Sunday”, in The Book of Small, Toronto, Ont.: Oxford University Press, →OCLC:
Most of the church amened and applauded.2015, T. M. Young, Much Given, Much Required, page xxx:
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She must be thinking Reverend Hopkins is talking directly to her, because she starts amening and shouting real loud when he gets to the part in Proverbs […]2015, Jewelle Francis, Manifest Destiny:
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To say amen to; to ratify solemnly.
spending the first half of the rally amening any mention of God or Reagan1984 August 11, Gail Ann Williams, “Convention Views: On The Street, In The Hall”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 5, page 3: