amnesty, n. [L. amnestia, Gr. , a forgetting, fr. forgotten, forgetful; 'a priv. + mna^sqai to remember: cf. F. amnistie, earlier amnestie. See Mean, v.].

Forgetfulness; cessation of remembrance of wrong; oblivion. [1913 Webster]
An act of the sovereign power granting oblivion, or a general pardon, for a past offense, as to subjects concerned in an insurrection. [1913 Webster]

amnesty, v. t.

To grant amnesty to. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

amnesty, n. & v.
--n. (pl. -ies) a general pardon, esp. for political offences.
--v.tr. (-ies, -ied) grant an amnesty to.

Idiom

Amnesty International an independent international organization in support of human rights, esp. for prisoners of conscience.

Etymology

F amnestie or L f. Gk amnestia oblivion

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DEVIL DICTIONARY

amnesty

n. The state's magnanimity to those offenders whom it would be too expensive to punish.

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THESAURUS

amnesty

absolution, exculpation, excuse, exemption, exoneration, grace, immunity, impunity, indemnity, nolle prosequi, non prosequitur, nonprosecution, pardon, redemption, remission, remission of sin, reprieve, shrift, sparing, stay

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ROGET THESAURUS

amnesty

Pacification

N pacification, conciliation, reconciliation, reconcilement, shaking of hands, accommodation, arrangement, adjustment, terms, compromise, amnesty, deed of release, peace offering, olive branch, calumet of peace, preliminaries of peace, truce, armistice, suspension of arms, suspension of hostilities, stand-down, breathing time, convention, modus vivendi, flag of truce, white flag, parlementaire, cartel, hollow truce, pax in bello, drawn battle, conciliatory, composing, pacified, requiescat in pace.

Forgiveness

N forgiveness, pardon, condonation, grace, remission, absolution, amnesty, oblivion, indulgence, reprieve, conciliation, reconcilement, reconciliation, propitiation, excuse, exoneration, quittance, release, indemnity, bill of indemnity, act of indemnity, covenant of indemnity, deed of indemnity, exculpation, longanimity, placability, amantium irae, locus paenitentiae, forbearance, forgiving, placable, conciliatory, forgiven, unresented, unavenged, unrevenged, cry you mercy, veniam petimusque damusque vicissim, more in sorrow than in anger, comprendre tout c'est tout pardonner, the offender never pardons.

Oblivion

N oblivion, obliviousness, lethe, forgetfulness, amnesia, obliteration of &c, insensibility to the past, short memory, treacherous memory, poor memory, loose memory, slippery memory, failing memory, decay of memory, failure of memory, lapse of memory, waters of Lethe, waters of oblivion, amnesty, general pardon, repressed memory, forgotten, unremembered, past recollection, bygone, out of mind, buried in oblivion, sunk in oblivion, clean forgotten, gone out of one's head, gone out of one's recollection, forgetful, oblivious, mindless, Lethean, insensible to the past, heedless, non mi ricordo, the memory failing, the memory deserting one, being at fault, being in fault, To the Future.

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