Comforting

Comfort 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. [1913 Webster]

God's own testimony . . . doth not a little comfort and confirm the same. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]

2. To assist or help; to aid. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

I . . . can not help the noble chevalier: God comfort him in this necessity! --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to console; to cheer. [1913 Webster]

Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

That we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction. --2 Cor. i. 4 (Rev. Ver.). [1913 Webster]

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.

Usage: {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. [1913 Webster]