- comfort
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—comfortless, adj./kum"feuhrt/, v.t.1. to soothe, console, or reassure; bring cheer to: They tried to comfort her after her loss.2. to make physically comfortable.3. Obs. to aid; support or encourage.n.4. relief in affliction; consolation; solace: Her presence was a comfort to him.5. a feeling of relief or consolation: Her forgiveness afforded him great comfort.6. a person or thing that gives consolation: She was a great comfort to him.7. a cause or matter of relief or satisfaction: The patient's recovery was a comfort to the doctor.8. a state of ease and satisfaction of bodily wants, with freedom from pain and anxiety: He is a man who enjoys his comfort.9. something that promotes such a state: His wealth allows him to enjoy a high degree of comfort.10. Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a comforter or quilt.11. Obs. strengthening aid; assistance.[1175-1225; (v.) ME comfortien, var. of confortien, conforten < AF, OF conforter < LL confortare to strengthen, equiv. to con- CON- + -fortare v. deriv. of L fortis strong; (n.) ME < AF, OF, n. deriv. of the v.]Syn. 1. pacify, calm, solace, gladden. COMFORT, CONSOLE, RELIEVE, SOOTHE imply assuaging sorrow, worry, discomfort, or pain. To COMFORT is to lessen the sadness or sorrow of someone and to strengthen by inspiring with hope and restoring a cheerful outlook: to comfort a despairing person. CONSOLE, a more formal word, means to make grief or distress seem lighter, by means of kindness and thoughtful attentions: to console a bereaved parent. RELIEVE means to lighten, lessen, or remove pain, trouble, discomfort, or hardship: to relieve a needy person. SOOTHE means to pacify or calm: to soothe a child. 1, 2. ease. 8. See ease.
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Universalium. 2010.