Com"fort (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Comforted; p. pr. & vb.
n. Comforting.] [F. conforter, fr. L.
confortare to strengthen much; con- + fortis
strong. See Fort.] 1. To make strong;
to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate. [Obs.]
Wyclif.
God's own testimony . . . doth not a little
comfort and confirm the same.
Hooker.
2. To assist or help; to aid.
[Obs.]
I . . . can not help the noble chevalier:
God comfort him in this necessity!
Shak.
3. To impart strength and hope to; to
encourage; to relieve; to console; to cheer.
Light excelleth in comforting the spirits
of men.
Bacon.
That we may be able to comfort them that
are in any affliction.
2 Cor. i. 4 (Rev. Ver.).
A perfect woman, nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort, and command.
Wordsworth.
Syn. -- To cheer; solace; console; revive; encourage;
enliven; invigorate; inspirit; gladden; recreate; exhilarate;
refresh; animate; confirm; strengthen. -- To Comfort,
Console, Solace. These verbs all suppose some
antecedent state of suffering or sorrow. Console is
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 consoled him; he
was much consoled by this intelligence. The act of
consoling commonly implies the inculcation of resignation.
Comfort 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 comforted." Acts xx. 12.
Solace is from L. solacium, which means according
to Dumesnil, consolation inwardly felt or applied to the case of
the sufferer. Hence, the verb to solace denotes the using
of things for the purpose of affording relief under sorrow or
suffering; as, to solace one's self with reflections, with
books, or with active employments.
Com"fort (?), n. [OF.
confort, fr. conforter.] 1.
Assistance; relief; support. [Obs. except in the
phrase "aid and comfort." See 5 below.] Shak.
2. Encouragement; solace; consolation in
trouble; also, that which affords consolation.
In comfort of her mother's fears.
Shak.
Cheer thy spirit with this comfort.
Shak.
Speaking words of endearment where words of
comfort availed not.
Longfellow.
3. A state of quiet enjoyment; freedom
from pain, want, or anxiety; also, whatever contributes to such a
condition.
I had much joy and comfort in thy love.
Phil. 7 (Rev. Ver.).
He had the means of living in comfort.
Macaulay.
4. A wadded bedquilt; a
comfortable. [U. S.]
5. (Law) Unlawful support,
countenance, or encouragement; as, to give aid and comfort
to the enemy.
Syn. -- Comfort, Consolation.
Comfort has two meanings: 1. Strength and
relief received under affliction; 2. Positive
enjoyment, of a quiet, permanent nature, together with the
sources thereof; as, the comfort of love; surrounded with
comforts; but it is with the former only that the word
consolation is brought into comparison. As thus compared,
consolation points to some specific source of relief for
the afflicted mind; as, the consolations of religion.
Comfort supposes the relief to be afforded by imparting
positive enjoyment, as well as a diminution of pain.
"Consolation, or comfort, 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." Johnson.