From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
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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.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
comforting \comforting\ adj.
1. providing freedom from worry.
Syn: cheering, satisfying.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. affording comfort or solace.
Syn: consolatory, consoling.
[WordNet 1.5]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
comforting
adj 1: providing freedom from worry [syn: {comforting},
{cheering}, {satisfying}]
2: affording comfort or solace [syn: {comforting},
{consolatory}, {consoling}]
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