Comfort

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈkÊŒm.fÉ™t/
• US enPR: kÅ­m'fÉ™rt, IPA: /ˈkÊŒm.fɝt/

Origin

From Old French conforter, from Late Latin confortāre, present active infinitive of confortō ("strengthen greatly"), itself from Latin con- ("together") + fortis ("strong").

Full definition of comfort

Noun

1. Contentment, ease.Sleep in comfort with our new mattress.
2. Something that offers comfort.the comforts of home
3. A consolation; something relieving suffering or worry.We still have the spare tire? That's a comfort at least.
4. A cause of relief or satisfaction.The outcome of the peace negotiations in Moscow in 1940 was a heavy blow to the young nation, but in the same time a great comfort: at least the independency was preserved.

Antonyms

• (contentment, ease) austerity

Verb

1. (transitive) To relieve the distress or suffering of; to provide comfort to.Rob comforted Aaron because he was lost and very sad.
• Francis BaconLight excelleth in comforting the spirits of men.
2. (transitive) To make comfortable.
3. (obsolete) To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate.
• HookerGod's own testimony ... doth not a little comfort and confirm the same.
4. (obsolete) To assist or help; to aid.
• ShakespeareI ... cannot help the noble chevalier:
  God comfort him in this necessity!

Synonyms

• besoothe

Derived terms