com|fort

com|fort
com|fort «KUHM fuhrt», verb, noun.
–v.t.
1. to ease the grief or sorrow of; cheer: »

The mother's words of love and help comforted the crying girl.

2. to give ease to; make comfortable: »

The nurse comforted the patient by tidying up his bed.

3. Law. to help; support.
–n.
1. a) anything that makes trouble or sorrow easier to bear; consolation: »

The news that their missing son was well brought great comfort to his parents.

b) the feeling of relief or consolation.
2. a person or thing that makes life easier or takes away hardship: »

His dog was a great comfort to the lost hunter. Social security is a comfort to retired persons.

3. a cause or matter of satisfaction; something reassuring: »

Knowing that the police would protect him was a comfort to the witness.

4. a) freedom from pain or hardship; ease: »

My father makes enough money for us to live in comfort.

SYNONYM(S): See syn. under ease. (Cf. ↑ease) b) the conditions which produce or promote such a state: »

brought up in comfort and elegance.

5. U.S. Dialect. a comforter for a bed.
6. Law. help; support: »

Giving aid and comfort to an enemy is called treason.

╂[< Old French conforter < Late Latin confortāre strengthen < Latin com- together + fortis strong]
Synonym Study transitive verb. 1 Comfort, console mean to ease sorrow, trouble, or pain. Comfort means to ease the grief or sorrow of a person by making him more cheerful and giving him hope or strength: »

Neighbors comforted the parents of the injured child.

Console, more formal, means to make grief or trouble easier to bear by doing something to lighten it or make the person forget it temporarily: »

The pastor tried to console the grieving widow.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Com|fort|er — «KUHM fuhr tuhr», noun. 1. a person or thing that gives comfort: »The doctor is the best of comforters (Henry Fielding). 2. U.S. a padded or quilted covering for a bed. 3. a long woolen scarf. 4. a rubber nipple put into a baby s mouth to quiet… …   Useful english dictionary

  • com|fort|er — «KUHM fuhr tuhr», noun. 1. a person or thing that gives comfort: »The doctor is the best of comforters (Henry Fielding). 2. U.S. a padded or quilted covering for a bed. 3. a long woolen scarf. 4. a rubber nipple put into a baby s mouth to quiet… …   Useful english dictionary

  • com´fort|a|bly — com|fort|a|ble «KUHMF tuh buhl, KUHM fuhr », adjective, noun. –adj. 1. giving comfort or ease: »A soft, warm bed is comfortable. SYNONYM(S): snug, cozy. 2. in comfort; at ease: »The warm fire made him feel comfortable after a cold day outdoors. I …   Useful english dictionary

  • com´fort|a|ble|ness — com|fort|a|ble «KUHMF tuh buhl, KUHM fuhr », adjective, noun. –adj. 1. giving comfort or ease: »A soft, warm bed is comfortable. SYNONYM(S): snug, cozy. 2. in comfort; at ease: »The warm fire made him feel comfortable after a cold day outdoors. I …   Useful english dictionary

  • com|fort|a|ble — «KUHMF tuh buhl, KUHM fuhr », adjective, noun. –adj. 1. giving comfort or ease: »A soft, warm bed is comfortable. SYNONYM(S): snug, cozy. 2. in comfort; at ease: »The warm fire made him feel comfortable after a cold day outdoors. I feel… …   Useful english dictionary

  • com´fort|less|ness — com|fort|less «KUHM fuhrt lihs», adjective. 1. bringing no comfort or ease of mind: »comfortless words. 2. having none of the comforts of life: »a comfortless room. –com´fort|less|ly, adverb. –com´fort|less|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • com´fort|less|ly — com|fort|less «KUHM fuhrt lihs», adjective. 1. bringing no comfort or ease of mind: »comfortless words. 2. having none of the comforts of life: »a comfortless room. –com´fort|less|ly, adverb. –com´fort|less|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • com|fort|less — «KUHM fuhrt lihs», adjective. 1. bringing no comfort or ease of mind: »comfortless words. 2. having none of the comforts of life: »a comfortless room. –com´fort|less|ly, adverb. –com´fort|less|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • com´fort|ing|ly — com|fort|ing «KUHM fuhr tihng», adjective. that comforts or consoles; cheering; encouraging: »Let s have a bit of truth,…you don t know how tired I am of comforting lies (Graham Greene). –com´fort|ing|ly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • com|fort|ing — «KUHM fuhr tihng», adjective. that comforts or consoles; cheering; encouraging: »Let s have a bit of truth,…you don t know how tired I am of comforting lies (Graham Greene). –com´fort|ing|ly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

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