Definitions for: Comfort


[n] the act of consoling; giving relief in affliction; "his presence was a consolation to her"
[n] a feeling of freedom from worry or disappointment
[n] a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain; "he is a man who enjoys his comfort"; "she longed for the comfortableness of her armchair"
[n] a freedom from financial difficulty that promotes a comfortable state; "a life of luxury and ease"; "he had all the material comforts of this world"
[v] ease physically
[v] give moral or emotional strength to



Webster (1913) Definition: Com"fort, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comforted; p. pr. &
vb. n. Comforting.] [F. conforter, fr. L. confortare to
strengthen much; con- + fortis strong. See Fort.]
1. To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate.
[Obs.] --Wyclif.

God's own testimony . . . doth not a little comfort
and confirm the same. --Hooker.

2. To assist or help; to aid. [Obs.]

I . . . can not help the noble chevalier: God
comfort him in this necessity! --Shak.

3. To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve;
to console; to cheer.

Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men.
--Bacon.

That we may be able to comfort them that are in any
affliction. --2 Cor. i. 4
(Rev. Ver.).

A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort,
and command. --Wordsworth.

Syn: To cheer; solace; console; revive; encourage; enliven;
invigorate; inspirit; gladden; recreate; exhilarate;
refresh; animate; confirm; strengthen.

Usage: To Comfort, Console, Solace. These verbs all
suppose some antecedent state of suffering or sorrow.
Console is confined to the act giving sympathetic
relief to the mind under affliction or sorrow, and
points to some definite source of that relief; as, the
presence of his friend consoled him; he was much
consoled by this intelligence. The act of consoling
commonly implies the inculcation of resignation.
Comfort points to relief afforded by the communication
of positive pleasure, hope, and strength, as well as
by the diminution of pain; as, ``They brought the
young man alive, and were not a little comforted.''
--Acts xx. 12. Solace is from L. solacium, which means
according to Dumesnil, consolation inwardly felt or
applied to the case of the sufferer. Hence, the verb
to solace denotes the using of things for the purpose
of affording relief under sorrow or suffering; as, to
solace one's self with reflections, with books, or
with active employments.


Com"fort, n. [OF. confort, fr. conforter.]
1. Assistance; relief; support. [Obs. except in the phrase
``aid and comfort.'' See 5 below.] --Shak.

2. Encouragement; solace; consolation in trouble; also, that
which affords consolation.

In comfort of her mother's fears. --Shak.

Cheer thy spirit with this comfort. --Shak.

Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort
availed not. --Longfellow.

3. A state of quiet enjoyment; freedom from pain, want, or
anxiety; also, whatever contributes to such a condition.

I had much joy and comfort in thy love. --Phil. 7
(Rev. Ver.).

He had the means of living in comfort. --Macaulay.

4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [U. S.]

5. (Law) Unlawful support, countenance, or encouragement; as,
to give aid and comfort to the enemy.

Syn: Comfort, Consolation.

Usage: Comfort has two meanings:

1. Strength and relief received under affliction;

2. Positive enjoyment, of a quiet, permanent nature, together
with the sources thereof; as, the comfort of love;
surrounded with comforts; but it is with the former only
that the word consolation is brought into comparison. As
thus compared, consolation points to some specific source
of relief for the afflicted mind; as, the consolations of
religion. Comfort supposes the relief to be afforded by
imparting positive enjoyment, as well as a diminution of
pain. ``Consolation, or comfort, signifies some
alleviation to that pain to which it is not in our power
to afford the proper and adequate remedy; they imply
rather an augmentation of the power of bearing, than a
diminution of the burden.'' --Johnson.

Synonyms: comfortableness, consolation, console, ease, solace, solace, soothe

Antonyms: discomfort, uncomfortableness

See Also: affluence, allay, alleviate, alleviation, assuage, assuagement, calm, calm down, condition, consolation, convenience, cosiness, coziness, ease, ease, lap of luxury, lull, ministration, palliate, pleasance, pleasure, quiet, quieten, relief, relief, relief, relieve, relieve, richness, snugness, solace, solace, solacement, solacement, status, still, succor, succour, tranquilize, tranquillise, tranquillize

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