Adjacent Words

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FRIEND, n. frend.
1. One who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect and affection, which lead him to desire his company, and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity; opposed to foe or enemy.
A friend loveth at all times. Proverbs 17.
2. One not hostile; opposed to an enemy in war.
3. One reconciled after enmity. Let us be friends again.
4. An attendant; a companion.
5. A favorer; one who is propitious; as a friend to commerce; a friend to poetry; a friend to charitable institution.
6. A favorite. Hushai was David's friend.
7. A term of salutation; a familiar compellation.
Friend, how camest thou in hither? Matthew 22.
So Christ calls Judas his friend, though a traitor.
Matthew 26.
8. Formerly, a paramour.
9. A friend at court, one who has sufficient interest to serve another.
FRIEND, v.t. frend. To favor; to countenance; to befriend; to support or aid. [But we now use befriend.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a person you know well and regard with affection and trust; "he was my best friend at the university"
2: an associate who provides cooperation or assistance; "he's a good ally in fight" [syn: ally, friend] [ant: enemy, foe]
3: a person with whom you are acquainted; "I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances"; "we are friends of the family" [syn: acquaintance, friend] [ant: alien, stranger, unknown]
4: a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the library" [syn: supporter, protagonist, champion, admirer, booster, friend]
5: a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers) [syn: Friend, Quaker]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English frend, from Old English fr?ond; akin to Old High German friunt friend, Old English fr?on to love, fr?o free Date: before 12th century 1. a. one attached to another by affection or esteem b. acquaintance 2. a. one that is not hostile b. one that is of the same nation, party, or group 3. one that favors or promotes something (as a charity) 4. a favored companion 5. capitalized a member of a Christian sect that stresses Inner Light, rejects sacraments and an ordained ministry, and opposes war — called also Quaker • friendless adjective • friendlessness noun II. transitive verb Date: 13th century to act as the friend of ; befriend

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a person with whom one enjoys mutual affection and regard (usu. exclusive of sexual or family bonds). 2 a sympathizer, helper, or patron (no friend to virtue; a friend of order). 3 a person who is not an enemy or who is on the same side (friend or foe?). 4 a a person already mentioned or under discussion (my friend at the next table then left the room). b a person known by sight. c used as a polite or ironic form of address. 5 (usu. in pl.) a regular contributor of money or other assistance to an institution. 6 (Friend) a member of the Society of Friends, a Quaker. 7 (in pl.) one's near relatives, those responsible for one. 8 a helpful thing or quality. --v.tr. archaic or poet. befriend, help. Phrases and idioms: be (or keep) friends with be friendly with. friend at court a friend whose influence may be made use of. my honourable friend Brit. used in the House of Commons to refer to another member of one's own party. my learned friend used by a lawyer in court to refer to another lawyer. my noble friend Brit. used in the House of Lords to refer to another member of one's own party. Derivatives: friended adj. friendless adj. Etymology: OE freond f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Friend Friend (fr[e^]nd), n. [OR. frend, freond, AS. fre['o]nd, prop. p. pr. of fre['o]n, fre['o]gan, to love; akin to D. vriend friend, OS. friund friend, friohan to love, OHG. friunt friend, G. freund, Icel. fr[ae]ndi kinsman, Sw. fr["a]nde. Goth. frij[=o]nds friend, frij[=o]n to love. [root]83. See Free, and cf. Fiend.] 1. One who entertains for another such sentiments of esteem, respect, and affection that he seeks his society aud welfare; a wellwisher; an intimate associate; sometimes, an attendant. Want gives to know the flatterer from the friend. --Dryden. A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. --Prov. xviii. 24. 2. One not inimical or hostile; one not a foe or enemy; also, one of the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly feelings may be assumed. The word is some times used as a term of friendly address. Friend, how camest thou in hither? --Matt. xxii. 12. 3. One who looks propitiously on a cause, an institution, a project, and the like; a favorer; a promoter; as, a friend to commerce, to poetry, to an institution. 4. One of a religious sect characterized by disuse of outward rites and an ordained ministry, by simplicity of dress and speech, and esp. by opposition to war and a desire to live at peace with all men. They are popularly called Quakers. America was first visited by Friends in 1656. --T. Chase. 5. A paramour of either sex. [Obs.] --Shak. A friend at court or in court, one disposed to act as a friend in a place of special opportunity or influence. To be friends with, to have friendly relations with. ``He's . . . friends with C[ae]sar.'' --Shak. To make friends with, to become reconciled to or on friendly terms with. ``Having now made friends with the Athenians.'' --Jowett (Thucyd.).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Friend Friend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Friended; p. pr. & vb. n. Friending.] To act as the friend of; to favor; to countenance; to befriend. [Obs.] Fortune friends the bold. --Spenser.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(friends) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. A friend is someone who you know well and like, but who is not related to you. I had a long talk about this with my best friend... She never was a close friend of mine. ...Sara's old friend, Ogden. N-COUNT 2. If you are friends with someone, you are their friend and they are yours. I still wanted to be friends with Alison... We remained good friends... Sally and I became friends. N-PLURAL: oft N with n 3. The friends of a country, cause, organization, or a famous politician are the people and organizations who help and support them. ...The Friends of Birmingham Royal Ballet. N-PLURAL; N-IN-NAMES 4. If one country refers to another as a friend, they mean that the other country is not an enemy of theirs. The president said that Japan is now a friend and international partner. = ally N-COUNT 5. If you make friends with someone, you begin a friendship with them. You can also say that two people make friends. He has made friends with the kids on the street... He had made a friend of both girls. PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR with n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Confidant, intimate, dear companion, loved or loving associate, bosom friend. 2. Ally, associate, confrère, member of the same party, adherent of the same cause, fellow-partisan, fellow-adherent. 3. Favorer, encourager, well-wisher, patron, advocate, adherent, defender, supporter, good genius. 4. Quaker.

Moby Thesaurus

Maecenas, acquaintance, adherent, advocate, ally, alter ego, amigo, angel, associate, baby, backer, beau, bedfellow, benefactor, best friend, bird, boon companion, bosom buddy, bosom friend, boyfriend, chum, co-worker, cocker, cohort, colleague, compatriot, compeer, comrade, concubine, confederate, confidant, confidante, confrere, consociate, crony, doxy, escort, familiar, fellow, financier, girl, intimate, investor, lover, man, mate, mistress, moll, pal, partner, patron, playmate, roomie, soul mate, squeeze, supporter, sweetheart, twist, woman