comfort English · revision 5429

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la fortis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkʌm.fət/, /ˈkʌmp.fət/, US /ˈkʌm.fɚt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|confort|alt=cunfort, confort]], [[bor|fro|confort|alt=cunfort, confort|t=consolation, solace; pleasure]], with the verb from [[m|fro|conforter|t=to help, strengthen, console]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la-lat|cōnfortāre|t=to strengthen much]], from [[m|la|com-]], perhaps intensive, and [[m|la|fortis|t=strong]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The change of n to m before f took place in English from the 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[fort]] and [[force]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, consolation in sorrow, is from before 1200 in the Ancrene Riwle, about 1200 in Etymonline,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the verb, to cheer up or console, from about 1280.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) It replaced Old English frōfor.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English the word also meant strength, support and encouragement, and the verb “to strengthen, encourage”;^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) ''aid and comfort'' survives in law.^(SOED 2002) A state of enjoyment from satisfied bodily wants and freedom from anxiety is from the mid-13th century,^(Etymonline) and a source of satisfaction from the 16th.^(Hoad 1986) ''Comforts'', as opposed to necessities and luxuries, is from the 1650s,^(Etymonline) and material well-being from the 19th century.^(Hoad 1986) ''Comfortable'' is from about 1340, at first “pleasant, enjoyable”.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Comfort food'' is by 1987.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – noun, consolation.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1280 – verb, to console.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-13th century – well-being.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1340 – ''comfortable''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1650s – ''comforts''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1987 – ''comfort food''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A state of physical ease and well-being.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relief from grief, worry or pain; [[solace]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person or thing that brings comfort.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(comforts)'' Things that make life easy and pleasant.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make someone feel less sad or worried; to [[console]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To ease physical pain.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[comfortingly]]

+ * [[comfortless]]

+ * [[comfortable]]

+ * [[discomfort]]

+ * [[comforter]]

+ * [[comforting]]

+ * [[cold comfort]]

+ * [[comfort food]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fort]]

+ * [[fortify]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Comfort, console and solace share the sense “to give hope or help in grief or pain”.^(AHD) In Lincolnshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall dialect a comfort was a comfit or sweet sold at fairs.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}