Dictionary

comfort en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• [ˈkʰɐɱ.fət] (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /kʌmˈfɔɹt/ obsolete or non-native speakers' English
• /ˈkʌm.fɔɹt/ non-native speakers' English
• /ˈkɐm.fət/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• kŭm'fərt (Canada, General-American)
• [ˈkʰɐɱ.fɚt] (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈkʌm.fɚt/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈkʊm.fət/ (Northern-England)
• (California) audio
• kŭmfôrt' obsolete or non-native speakers' English
• /ˈkʌm.fət/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English comfort, from Old French cunfort, confort, from the stem of Late Latin confortō. It replaced Old English frofor, Middle English frovre.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Contentment, ease.
   • Sleep in comfort with our new mattress.
   • I can make money from the comfort of my sofa / So much drive, now I gotta get a chauffeur 2024, “Hot One”, in King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2, performed by Denzel Curry:
   • How often is the comfort of a whole family abridged by some trifling circumstance, that ought not to have made a visible impression! 1850, T. S. Arthur, “A Rise in the Butter Market”, in Sketches of Life and Character, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, →OCLC, page 59:
   • But all was in vain: For having ranged up and down the Woods for ſome days, without finding the leaſt comfort to their hungry deſires, they were forced to return again unto the River. […] At laſt they arrived at the Coaſt of the Sea, where they found ſome comfort and relief to their former miſeries, and alſo means to ſeek more. 1684, chapter III, in Bucaniers of America: Or, A True Account of the Moſt Remarkable Aſſaults Committed of Late Years Upon the Coaſts of the West-Indies, by Bucaniers of Jamica and Tortuga, Both English and French; Wherein are Contained More Eſpecially, the Unparallel'd Exploits of Sir Henry Morgan, Our Engliſh Jamaican Hero, who ſack'd Puerto Velo, Burnt Panama. &c [Part II], volume 1, London: Printed for William Crooke, translation of De Americaensche Zee-Roovers, […] by John Eſquemeling, page 30:
   • In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. 1937 September 21, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel] Tolkien, “An Unexpected Party”, in The Hobbit: Or There and Back Again, revised edition, New York, N.Y.: Ballantine Books, published February 1966 (August 1967 printing), →OCLC, page 15:
2. (countable, uncountable) Something that offers comfort.
   • Coordinate term: glimmer (2020s, neologism; a happy moment)
   • the comforts of home
3. (countable, uncountable) A consolation; something relieving suffering or worry.
   • We still have the spare tire? That's a comfort at least.
4. (countable, uncountable) 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.

Forms

Antonyms

austerity

Deriveds

comfort noise · Dutch comfort · comfortize · comfortful · comfortable · comfortless · comfort room · too close for comfort · comfort station · thermal comfort · comfort stone · comfort stop · comfort eating · miscomfort · comfortfic · Lawson comfort criterion · comfort food · comfortsome · lip comfort · discomfort · creature comfort · comfort girl · comfort-eat · comfortment · comfortative · comfort woman · enumeration comma · comfortwear · letter of comfort · comfort fic · Job's comfort · comfortability · comfort letter · cold comfort · uncomfort · comfort tone · comfort break · comfort zone

Synonyms

solace · relief · comfort · liss · release · alleviation · solace · liss · ease · consolation · respite

Translations (151)

bg разтуха (cause of relief or satisfaction) · bg утеха (consolation) · pl wygoda (contentment, ease) · hi सुखद (contentment, ease) · tg қулай (contentment, ease) · gl albenda (consolation) · sh utjeha (consolation) · bg облекчение (cause of relief or satisfaction) · ru ую́т (contentment, ease) · uk зру́чність (contentment, ease) · fa آسایش (contentment, ease) · ar رَاحَة (contentment, ease) · pt conforto (cause of relief or satisfaction) · ca benestar (cause of relief or satisfaction) · ru уте́ха (cause of relief or satisfaction) · uk комфо́рт (contentment, ease) · be суцяшэ́нне (consolation) · he נוחות (contentment, ease) · tr konfor (contentment, ease) · ro consolare (consolation) · be зру́чнасць (contentment, ease) · ug پاراغەت (contentment, ease) · sv tröst (consolation) · wa ricfoirt (consolation) · ga só (contentment, ease) · pl komfort (contentment, ease) · el παρηγοριά (consolation) · fi lohdutus (consolation) · got 𐌰𐌶𐌴𐍄𐌹 (contentment, ease) · ug راھەت (contentment, ease) · ba йыуаныс (consolation) · ja 慰め (consolation) · ja 快適さ (contentment, ease) · gl conorto (cause of relief or satisfaction) · da trøst (consolation) · fi mukavuus (contentment, ease) · it agio (contentment, ease) · bg удо́бство (contentment, ease) · gl conorto (consolation) · be уцяшэ́нне (consolation) · mi āhurutanga (contentment, ease) · txb tsārwäṣṣälyñe (consolation) · de Tröstung (consolation) · nl troost (cause of relief or satisfaction) · cmn 安逸 (cause of relief or satisfaction) · cy cysur (consolation) · fi lohtu (consolation) · gl conforte (contentment, ease) · lv ērtība (contentment, ease) · pl pociecha (consolation) · fr confort (contentment, ease) · scn cunortu (contentment, ease) · grc ἄνεσις (contentment, ease) · cu оувѣтъ (consolation) · el άνεση (contentment, ease) · mi hāneaneatanga (contentment, ease) · ru утеше́ние (cause of relief or satisfaction) · ru комфо́рт (contentment, ease) · yi טרייסט (consolation) · eo komforto (contentment, ease) · cs pohodlí (consolation) · sga sádaile (contentment, ease) · pdt Jemak (contentment, ease) · pt conforto (consolation) · hu enyhület (cause of relief or satisfaction) · pt consolo (consolation) · gl conforto (consolation) · de Bequemlichkeit (contentment, ease) · mk удобност (contentment, ease) · nl gemak (cause of relief or satisfaction) · lv mierinājums (consolation) · it comodità (contentment, ease) · gl bago (consolation) · es comodidad (contentment, ease) · sh uteha (cause of relief or satisfaction) · ca comoditat (contentment, ease) · ml സുഖം (contentment, ease) · tg роҳат (contentment, ease) · ca confort (contentment, ease) · mi tupoho (consolation) · de Komfort (contentment, ease) · pap fasilidat (contentment, ease) · ru утеше́ние (consolation) · pdt Troost (consolation) · mi oranga ngākau (contentment, ease) · sl udobje (contentment, ease) · uk утіша́ння (consolation) · bn সান্ত্বনা (consolation) · he נחמה (cause of relief or satisfaction) · hi सांत्वना (consolation) · cs pohodlí (contentment, ease) · es consuelo (consolation) · nl gemak (contentment, ease) · ga compord (contentment, ease) · pt conforto (contentment, ease) · gl consolo (consolation) · sga sádailecht (contentment, ease) · sh uteha (consolation) · ar جابر (consolation) · fi helpotus (cause of relief or satisfaction) · fo uggi (consolation) · fa راحت (contentment, ease) · is huggun (consolation) · da komfort (contentment, ease) · sv komfort (contentment, ease) · hi आराम (contentment, ease) · sv bekvämlighet (contentment, ease) · nl troost (consolation) · cmn 舒適 /舒适 (contentment, ease) · kk ыңғайлық (contentment, ease) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌸𐌻𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃 (consolation) · ro confort (contentment, ease) · ca consol (consolation) · cmn 安慰 (consolation) · da bekvemmelighed (contentment, ease) · ga sólás (consolation) · gl conforto (contentment, ease) · id kenyamanan (contentment, ease) · hu kényelem (contentment, ease) · de Trost (cause of relief or satisfaction) · gl albenda (cause of relief or satisfaction) · la sōlāmen (consolation) · hu vigasztalás (consolation) · sh komfor (contentment, ease) · de Trost (consolation) · he נחמה (consolation) · hu vigasz (consolation) · gl comodidade (contentment, ease) · gl consolo (cause of relief or satisfaction) · so raaxo (contentment, ease) · nl comfort (contentment, ease) · bn আরাম (contentment, ease) · da behagelighed (contentment, ease) · kk жұбаныш (consolation) · uk вигі́дність (contentment, ease) · pt consolo (cause of relief or satisfaction) · de Behaglichkeit (contentment, ease) · ru удо́бство (contentment, ease) · be выго́да (contentment, ease) · sv tröst (cause of relief or satisfaction) · de Tröstung (cause of relief or satisfaction) · id kepuasan (cause of relief or satisfaction) · sh utjeha (cause of relief or satisfaction) · be камфо́рт (contentment, ease) · es confort (contentment, ease) · gl conchego (contentment, ease) · sk pohodlie (contentment, ease) · gl bago (cause of relief or satisfaction) · scn cummidità (contentment, ease) · ml സമാധാനം (consolation) · gl conforto (cause of relief or satisfaction)

comfort en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• [ˈkʰɐɱ.fət] (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /kʌmˈfɔɹt/ obsolete or non-native speakers' English
• /ˈkʌm.fɔɹt/ non-native speakers' English
• /ˈkɐm.fət/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• kŭm'fərt (Canada, General-American)
• [ˈkʰɐɱ.fɚt] (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈkʌm.fɚt/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈkʊm.fət/ (Northern-England)
• (California) audio
• kŭmfôrt' obsolete or non-native speakers' English
• /ˈkʌm.fət/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English comforten, from Old French conforter, from Late Latin confortō (“to strengthen greatly”), itself from Latin con- (“together”) + fortis (“strong”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To relieve the distress or suffering of; to provide comfort to.
   • Light, above all things, excelleth in comforting the spirits of men. 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:
   • Rob comforted Aaron because he was lost and very sad.
   • Shew me a token foꝛ good, that they which hate me may ſee it, and bee aſhamed: becauſe thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comfoꝛted me. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 86:17:
2. (obsolete) To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate.
   • God's own testimony […] doth not a little comfort and confirm the same. [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
3. (obsolete) To assist or help; to aid.
   • I […] cannot help the noble chevalier: / God comfort him in this necessity! 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:

Forms

Antonyms

hurt · vex

Deriveds

comforting · comforter · uncomfort

Hypernyms

affect

Relateds

consolation · pity

Synonyms

besoothe · comfort · solace · besoothe · console · soothe · console · cheer

Translations (64)

kk уату (to provide comfort to — see also console) · cmn 寬慰 /宽慰 (to provide comfort to — see also console) · nl troosten (to provide comfort to — see also console) · tr ferahlatmak (to provide comfort to — see also console) · fo troysta (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ovd ugga (to provide comfort to — see also console) · be уце́шыць (to provide comfort to — see also console) · es confortar (to provide comfort to — see also console) · be уцяша́ць (to provide comfort to — see also console) · fo ugga (to provide comfort to — see also console) · be супако́йваць (to provide comfort to — see also console) · scn cunurtari (to provide comfort to — see also console) · be заспако́йваць (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ru успоко́ить (to provide comfort to — see also console) · hy մխիթարել (to provide comfort to — see also console) · hy սփոփել (to provide comfort to — see also console) · de trösten (to provide comfort to — see also console) · he ניחם (to provide comfort to — see also console) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌸𐌻𐌰𐌹𐌷𐌰𐌽 (to provide comfort to — see also console) · de ermutigen (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ar عَزَّى (to provide comfort to — see also console) · el παρηγορώ (to provide comfort to — see also console) · uk утиша́ти (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ca consolar (to provide comfort to — see also console) · pt confortar (to provide comfort to — see also console) · tr teselli etmek (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ar سَلَّى (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ca confortar (to provide comfort to — see also console) · sv trösta (to provide comfort to — see also console) · be супако́іць (to provide comfort to — see also console) · is hugga (to provide comfort to — see also console) · he הרגיע (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ru успока́ивать (to provide comfort to — see also console) · got 𐌸𐍂𐌰𐍆𐍃𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to provide comfort to — see also console) · bg успокоявам (to provide comfort to — see also console) · cmn 安慰 (to provide comfort to — see also console) · bg утешавам (to provide comfort to — see also console) · kk жұбату (to provide comfort to — see also console) · xal төвкнүлх (to provide comfort to — see also console) · zdj utruliza (to provide comfort to — see also console) · hi सांत्वना (to provide comfort to — see also console) · la consōlor (to provide comfort to — see also console) · az ürək-dirək vermək (to provide comfort to — see also console) · fi rauhoittaa (to provide comfort to — see also console) · uk заспоко́їти (to provide comfort to — see also console) · grc παρηγορέω (to provide comfort to — see also console) · be заспако́іць (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ar وَاسَى (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ru уте́шить (to provide comfort to — see also console) · la alloquor (to provide comfort to — see also console) · fi lohduttaa (to provide comfort to — see also console) · sk uteší (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ovd trösta (to provide comfort to — see also console) · yi טרייסטן (to provide comfort to — see also console) · hu vigasztal (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ja 慰める (to provide comfort to — see also console) · ru утеша́ть (to provide comfort to — see also console) · fr consoler (to provide comfort to — see also console) · scn cunzulari (to provide comfort to — see also console) · uk ути́шити (to provide comfort to — see also console) · pt reconfortar (to provide comfort to — see also console) · uk заспоко́ювати (to provide comfort to — see also console) · da trøste (to provide comfort to — see also console) · fy treastgje (to provide comfort to — see also console)