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comfort definition

com·fort (kum′fərt)

transitive verb

  1. to soothe in distress or sorrow; ease the misery or grief of; bring consolation or hope to
  2. to give a sense of ease to
  3. Law to help; aid

Etymology: ME comforten < OFr conforter, to comfort < LL (esp. in Vulg. of O.T.) confortare, to strengthen much < L com-, intens. + fortis, strong: see fort

noun

  1. aid; encouragement: now only in aid and comfort
  2. relief from distress, grief, etc.; consolation
  3. a person or thing that comforts
  4. a state of ease and quiet enjoyment, free from worry, pain, or trouble
  5. anything that makes life easy or comfortable
  6. ☆ a quilted bed covering; comforter

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms comfort idiom

comfort Synonyms

comfort

n.

  1. A state of ease

    contentment, ease, well-being, rest, quiet, relaxation, repose, alleviation, relief, assuagement, poise, prosperity, opulence, cheer, snugness, abundance, sufficiency, gratification, luxury, warmth, plenty, creature comforts, amenities, satisfaction, satisfaction of bodily wants, coziness, pleasure, happiness, restfulness, peacefulness, cheerfulness, complacency, bed of roses*; see also convenience 2, ease 1, enjoyment 2, satisfaction 2.

    Antonyms discomfort, uneasiness, distress.

  2. Consolation

    solace, compassion, sympathy; see pity 1, sympathy 2.

  3. Anything that brings comfort

    help, support, succor; see aid 1, encouragement 2.


comfort

v.

console, soothe, solace, condole, commiserate, grieve with, compassionate, sympathize, share with, calm, pacify, compose, tranquilize, reassure, hearten, cheer, gladden, inspirit, revive, reanimate, bolster up, put at ease, make comfortable, relieve, alleviate, assuage, allay, mitigate, quiet one's fears, help one in need, lighten one's burden, grant respite, disburden, succor, sustain, support, uphold, encourage, invigorate, enhearten, give one a lift, renew, refresh, revitalize, revivify, strengthen, salve, warm, ameliorate, lighten, soften, abate, remedy, release, restore, pat on the back, hold one's hand, sit by, put in a good humor; see also encourage 2, pity 1, sympathize.

Antonyms make uneasy, distress, afflict, discourage.

comfort suggests the lessening of misery or grief by cheering, calming, or inspiring with hope; console suggests less positive relief but implies a moderation of the sense of loss or disappointment to console someone on the death of a parent; solace suggests the relieving of melancholy, boredom, or loneliness I solaced myself with music; soothe implies the calming or allaying of pain, distress, or agitation to soothe a fretful child


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

comfort Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • combine: Students have been combining the comfort of city hotels with more challenging cultural activities.

Preposition: in

  • warmth: Refurbished to provide individuality and comfort in the warmth of elegance.

Adjective modifier

  • thermal: To better understand why air temperature alone is not a valid indicator of thermal comfort, see the six basic factors.

Modifies a noun

  • zone: We were just in a really good zone, a good comfort zone that first part of the race.

Noun used with modifier

  • creature: Most tourists visit peninsula Malaysia with the west coast offering more in the way of creature comforts.
comfort usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

comfort quotes

Feoh byth frofur fira gehwylcum Sceal theah manna gehwylc miclun hyt d×lan. Money is a comfort to each man, But everyone should nevertheless give it away freely.

-Anonymous

The first sense he had of God was when he was eleven years oldat Chigwell being retired intoa chamberalone: he was so suddenly surprised with a sense of inward comfort and (as he thought) an external glory in the room that he had many times said that from thence he has the Seal of Divinityand Immortality, that there was a God and thatthesoul of manwas capable ofenjoying his divine communications.

-Aubrey,John

Man seeketh in society comfort, use, and protection.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

comfort quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"comfort." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/comfort>

APA Style

comfort. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/comfort

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