Amen

Part of speech: interjection

Pronunciation: /(ˌ)ɑːˈmɛn/

Definitions

1. A concluding word spoken in religious settings to affirm agreement with a prayer or statement
2. A word used to express strong agreement or affirmation at the end of a prayer or statement
3. An utterance signifying concurrence or approval, commonly said after religious declarations

Etymology: Few words have travelled as far with as little change as this one. The Hebrew "āmēn" meant "certainly" or "verily," a sense rooted in the idea of firmness and reliability. Ancient Greek kept the word almost intact as "amēn," and the early Church carried it into Latin, so a single word of Hebrew assent ended up at the close of prayers in churches across Europe. In Old English, the word was used in a surprisingly limited way. It appeared only at the end of the Gospels. Everywhere else, translators rendered the same idea with phrases such as "sōþlīċe," meaning "truly, indeed," or "swā hit is," meaning "so it is," and "sīe," meaning "so be it." Scribes apparently reserved the untranslated Hebrew-derived form for the most solemn closing moment of the text. The word reached English in its Old English form "āmen" and was later spelled "amen" in Middle English. Its meaning has stayed close to the original throughout: an affirmation that what has been said is true and should be accepted.

Synonyms: so be it, truly, verily, indeed, certainly