Part 2137

<hw>Com"fort</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Comforted</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Comforting.</er>]</wordforms> <ety>[F. <ets>conforter</ets>, fr. L. <ets>confortare</ets> to strengthen much; <ets>con-</ets> + <ets>fortis</ets> strong. See <er>Fort</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Wyclif.</i>

<blockquote>God's own testimony . . . doth not a little <b>comfort</b> and confirm the same. <i>Hooker.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To assist or help; to aid.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>I . . . can not help the noble chevalier: God <b>comfort</b> him in this necessity! <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to console; to cheer,</def>

<blockquote>Light excelleth in <b>comforting</b> the spirits of men. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>That we may be adle to <b>comfort</b> them that are in any affliction. <i>2 Cor. i. 4. (Rev. Ver. ).</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to <b>comfort</b>, and command. <i>Wordsworth.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To cheer; solace; console; revive; encourage; enliven; invigorate; inspirit, gladden; recreate; exhilarate; refresh; animate; confirm; strengthen.</syn> <usage> -- <er>To Comfort</er>, <er>Console</er>, <er>Solace</er>. These verbs all suppose some antecedent state of suffering or sorrow. <i>Console</i> in 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 <i>consoled</i> him; he was much <i>consoled</i> by this intelligence. The act of consoling commonly implies the inculcation of resignation. <i>Comfort</i> 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 <i>comforted</i>."</usage>

<i>Acts xx. 12.</i>

<note><i>Solace</i> is from L. <i>solacium</i>, which means according to Dumesnil, consolation inwardly felt or applied to the case of the sufferer. Hence, the verb <i>to solace</i> denotes the using of things for the purpose of affording relief under sorrow or suffering; as, <i>to solace</i> one's self with reflections, with books, or with active employments.</note>

<h1>Comfort</h1> <Xpage=283>

<hw>Com"fort</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>confort</ets>, fr. <ets>conforter</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Assistance; relief; support.</def> <mark>[Obs. except in the phrase "aid and <i>comfort</i>." See 5 below.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Encouragement; solace; consolation in trouble; also, that which affords consolation.</def>

<blockquote>In <b>comfort</b> of her mother's fears. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Cheer thy spirit with this <b>comfort</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Speaking words of endearment where words of <b>comfort</b> availed not. <i>Longfellow.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A state of quiet enjoyment; freedom from pain, want, or anxiety; also, whatever contributes to such a condition.</def>

<blockquote>I had much joy and <b>comfort</b> in thy love. <i>Phil. 7 (Rev. Ver. ).</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>He had the means of living in <b>comfort</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable.</def> <mark>[U. S.]</mark>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>Unlawful support, countenance, or encouragement; <as>as, to give aid and <ex>comfort</ex> to the enemy</as>.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Comfort</er>, <er>Consolation</er>.</syn> <usage> <i>Comfort</i> has two meanings: <p><b>1.</b> Strength and relief received under affliction; <p><b>2.</b> Positive enjoyment, of a quiet, permanent nature, together with the sources thereof; as, the <i>comfort</i> of love; surrounded with <i>comforts</i>; but it is with the former only that the word <i>consolation</i> is brought into comparison. As thus compared, <i>consolation</i> points to some specific source of relief for the afflicted mind; as, the <i>consolations</i> of religion. <i>Comfort</i> supposes the relief to be afforded by imparting positive enjoyment, as well as a diminution of pain. "<i>Consolation</i>, or <i>comfort</i>, 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."</usage>

<i>Johnson.</i>

<h1>Comfortable</h1> <Xpage=283>

<hw>Com"fort*a*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>confortable</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Strong; vigorous; valiant.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>