COMFORTING
comforting, consolatory, consoling
(adjective) affording comfort or solace
comforting, cheering, satisfying
(adjective) providing freedom from worry
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Adjective
comforting (comparative more comforting, superlative most comforting)
Giving comfort.
Verb
comforting
present participle of comfort
Noun
comforting (plural comfortings)
The act of giving comfort.
Source: Wiktionary
COMFORT
Com"fort, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comforted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comforting.]
Etym: [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 adle 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 in 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.
Note: 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. Etym: [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)
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition