Comforting

3 definitions found

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.
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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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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) 2.0 [wn]:

  comforting
       adj 1: providing freedom from worry [syn: {cheering}, {satisfying}]
       2: affording comfort or solace [syn: {consolatory}, {consoling}]