Emend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emended; p. pr. & vb. n. Emending.]
Etymology: [L. emendare; e out + menda, mendum, fault, blemish: cf. F. émender. Cf. Amend, Mend.]
To purge of faults; to make better; to correct; esp., to make corrections in (a literary work); to alter for the better by textual criticism, generally verbal.
Syn. -- To amend; correct; improve; better; reform; rectify. See Amend.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for emend; he lists it under amend.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.