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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Comfort \Com"fort\, n. [OF. confort, fr. conforter.]
1. Assistance; relief; support. [Obs. except in the phrase
"aid and comfort." See 5 below.] --Shak.
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2. Encouragement; solace; consolation in trouble; also, that
which affords consolation.
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In comfort of her mother's fears. --Shak.
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Cheer thy spirit with this comfort. --Shak.
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Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort
availed not. --Longfellow.
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3. A state of quiet enjoyment; freedom from pain, want, or
anxiety; also, whatever contributes to such a condition.
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I had much joy and comfort in thy love. --Phil. 7
(Rev. Ver.).
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He had the means of living in comfort. --Macaulay.
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4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [U. S.]
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5. (Law) Unlawful support, countenance, or encouragement; as,
to give aid and comfort to the enemy.

Syn: {Comfort}, {Consolation}.

Usage: 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.
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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.
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God's own testimony . . . doth not a little comfort
and confirm the same. --Hooker.
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2. To assist or help; to aid. [Obs.]
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I . . . can not help the noble chevalier:
God comfort him in this necessity! --Shak.
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3. To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve;
to console; to cheer.
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Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men.
--Bacon.
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That we may be able to comfort them that are in any
affliction. --2 Cor. i. 4
(Rev. Ver.).
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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.
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