אָמַץ (b. h.; √אם, cmp. אמם, חמץ) to press, harden. אוֹמְצֵי הלב hard-hearted. Tosef. Sot. XIV, 7; v. infra.
    Pi. - אִמֵּץ, אִימֵּץ 1) to make strong, to strengthen. Y. Taan. III, 66ᵈ all shall be מְאַמְּצִין כחך strengthening thy power (assist thee). Snh. 44ᵇ מאמץ עצמו וכ׳ who concentrates his energies for prayer. —2) to press, close; to make impervious. Sot. 47ᵇ מאַמְּצֵי הלב those who close their hearts, the hard-hearted; v. supra. [Sabb. XXIII, 5 מאמצין את המת Y. ed. (Mish. מעמ׳, Bab. ib. 151ᵇ מעצמין, Ms. M. מעמ׳) to close the eyes of a deceased person. Tosef. ib. XVII (XVIII), 19 לעַמֵּץ ed. Zuck. (Var. לאַמֵּץ). Sabb. 77ᵇ מעמצין או מאמצין וכ׳ is m’amm’tsin (l. c.) spelt with ע or with א? Answer by ref. to עוצם Is. XXXIII, 15(!).] V. אוּמְצָא.
    Hithpa. - הִתְאַמֵּץ to be closed. Tosef. l. c. מִתְאַמְּצוֹת מאיליהן they will be closed of themselves.