comfort

COMFORT, v.t.

1. To strengthen; to invigorate; to cheer or enliven.

Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men.

Comfort ye your hearts. Gen. 18.

2. To strengthen the mind when depressed or enfeebled; to console; to give new vigor to the spirits; to cheer, or relieve from depression, or trouble.

His friends came to mourn with him and to comfort him. Job. 2.

3. In law, to relieve, assist or encourage, as the accessory to a crime after the fact.

COMFORT, n.

1. Relief from pain; ease; rest or moderate pleasure after pain, cold or distress or uneasiness of body. The word signifies properly new strength, or animation; and relief from pain is often the effect of strength. In a popular sense, the word signifies rather negatively the absence of pain and the consequent quiet, than positive animation.

2. Relief from distress of mind; the ease and quiet which is experienced when pain, trouble, agitation or affliction ceases. It implies also some degree of positive animation of the spirits; or some pleasurable sensations derived from hope, and agreeable prospects; consolation.

Let me alone, that I may take comfort a little. Job 10.

Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. Matt. 9.

3. Support; consolation under calamity, distress or danger.

Let thy merciful kindness be for my comfort. Ps. 119.

4. That which gives strength or support in distress, difficulty, danger, or infirmity.

Pious children are the comfort of their aged parents.

5. In law, support; assistance; countenance; encouragement; as, an accessory affords aid or comfort to a felon.

6. That which gives security from want and furnishes moderate enjoyment; as the comforts of life.