comfort

See also: Comfort

English

Etymology

The verb is from Middle English conforten, from Old French conforter, from Late Latin confortō (“to strengthen greatly”), itself from Latin con- (“together”) + fortis (“strong”).

The noun is from Middle English confort, from Old French cunfort, confort, from the stem of Late Latin confortō. It replaced Old English frofor, Middle English frovre.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkʌm.fət/
  • (US) enPR: kŭm'fərt, IPA(key): /ˈkʌm.fɚt/
  • (obsolete) enPR: kŭmfôrt', IPA(key): /kʌmˈfɔɹt/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

comfort (countable and uncountable, plural comforts)

  1. Contentment, ease.
    Sleep in comfort with our new mattress.
  2. Something that offers comfort.
    the comforts of home
  3. A consolation; something relieving suffering or worry.
    We still have the spare tire? That's a comfort at least.
  4. A cause of relief or satisfaction.
    The outcome of the peace negotiations in Moscow in 1940 was a heavy blow to the young nation, but in the same time a great comfort: at least the independency was preserved.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked

Verb

comfort (third-person singular simple present comforts, present participle comforting, simple past and past participle comforted)

  1. (transitive) To relieve the distress or suffering of; to provide comfort to.
    Rob comforted Aaron because he was lost and very sad.
  2. (transitive) To make comfortable. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  3. (obsolete) To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Wyclif to this entry?)
    • Hooker
      God's own testimony […] doth not a little comfort and confirm the same.
  4. (obsolete) To assist or help; to aid.
    • Shakespeare
      I […] cannot help the noble chevalier: / God comfort him in this necessity!

Synonyms

Translations
console — see console

Derived terms
Terms derived from the noun or verb "comfort"

Dutch

Pronunciation
  • Audio(file)

Noun

comfort n (plural comforts, diminutive comfortje n)

  1. Physical comfort, ease
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