Friend sb. and a. World English Historical Dictionary

Friend sb. and a. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1901, rev. 2022. Friend sb. and a. Forms: 1 fréond, fríond, (dat. fríend, frýnd), 2–3 friend, 4 south. vriend, 2–7 frend(e, 4 south. vrend(e, 3–4 freond, (3 south. vreond), 3–7 freind(e, 4 south. vrind, vryend, 4–6 freend(e, freynd, 5–7 frind(e, 5–6 frynd(e, (6 Sc. freyind), 6– friend. Pl. 1 fríend, frýnd, fréond, fréondas, friondas, 2–3 frend, friend(e, 3 frond, 3–4 freond; otherwise regular. [Com. Teut.: OE. fréond str. masc. = OFris., OS. friund, friond (Du. vriend), OHG. friunt (MHG. vriunt, mod.Ger. freund), ON. (with change of declension in sing.) frǽnde (Sw. frände, Da. frænde), Goth. frijônds; the pr. pple. of the OTeut. vb. *frijôjan to love (OE. fréoȝan, fréon, Goth. frijôn; the Ger. freien, Du. vrijen to woo, and the rare ON. friá to caress, are prob. not identical, though from the same root), f. pre-Teut. *priyo- dear: see FREE a.] A. sb.

1   1.  ‘One joined to another in mutual benevolence and intimacy’ (J.). Not ordinarily applied to lovers or relatives (but cf. senses 3, 4).

2 Beowulf, 1017 (Gr.).                        Heorot innan wæs freondum afylled.

3 a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 2024.        Þa þæt inwitspell Abraham sæȝde freondum sinum.

4 c. 1200.  Ormin, 17960.        & whase iss þatt bridgumess frend,   He stannt wiþþ himm.

5 c. 1205.  Lay., 703.        Ȝe sculen habben lif & leomen & beon mine leofe freond.

6 c. 1305.  Pilate, 98–9, in E. E. P. (1862), 114.                        Gode freond hi were For tuei schrewen wolleþ freond beo.

7 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 8553. Ho was vnkyndly to knaw of hir kyd frendis.

8 1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, III. xiii. A trewe frend is oftyme better at a nede than a Royalme.

9 1557.  Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 185.        Of all good frutes the worlde brought forth, A faythfull frende is thing most worth.

10 a. 1679.  Hobbes, Rhet., II. vi. 76. A Friend is he that loves, and he that is beloved.

11 1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), II. 310. If we observe the common discourses of mankind, we shall find a friend to be one we frequently visit, who is our boon companion, or joins with us in our pleasures and diversions, or encourages us in our business, or unites in the same scheme, or votes the same way at an election, or is our patron or dependent, who we hope will help us in rising to preferment or increasing our interest.

12 1801.  Southey, Thalaba, VIII. i.        And the sound of his dear native tongue     May be like the voice of a friend.

13 1881.  Besant & Rice, Chapl. Fleet, I. 91. They do say that the doctor is a private friend of the dean, and hand-in-glove with the bishop.

14   b.  In various proverbial expressions. † But a friend’s friend: ever so remotely connected.

15 1340.  Ayenb., 186. Þanne he yziȝþ his niede: uor ate niede me yziȝþ huet þe urend is.

16 c. 1468.  Paston Lett., No. 582, II. 313. Better ys a frende unknow then knowen.

17 c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xix. 433. It is sayd, that at the nede the frende is knowen.

18 1539.  Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 32. A frende is more necessary than either fyer or water.

19 1546.  J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 37. Many kynsfolke and few freends, some folke saie. Ibid. (1562), Prov. and Epigr. (1867), 132. Proue thy freende er thou neede.

20 1599.  Porter, Angry Wom. Abingt. (Percy Soc.), 82. No, by lady, a friend is not so soone gotten as lost.

21 1642.  Jer. Taylor, Episc., Pref. I am confident you will owne any thing that is but a friends friend to a cause of Loyalty.

22 1816.  ‘Quiz,’ Grand Master, v. 100 ‘A friend in need’ Is, certainly, ‘a friend in deed.’

23   c.  Friend of God: a person eminent for piety, and presumed to enjoy God’s special favor. Now only with express reference to Jam. ii. 23.

24 O. E. Chron., an. 654. He wæs swyðe Godes freond.

25 c. 1205.  Lay., 9145.          Þat scolde beon i-haten Hælend & helpen his freondes.

26 c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 7. Þus hauen godes freond al þe fruit of þis world.

27 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, Berthol., 41.        Of mychty god, quod he, þe frende he is.

28   d.  Used in subscribing a letter.

29 1529.  Wolsey, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 11. For your olde brynger up and lovying frende.

30 1650.  Chas. II., in Hamilton Papers (Camden), 254.        Your most affectionate frinde,             CHARLES R.

31 1661.  Jer. Taylor, in Hatton Corr. (1878), 27. Your Lorps most endeared, as most obliged, freind and servant.

32   e.  Applied to a second in a duel.

33 1800.  Mar. Edgeworth, Belinda (1832), I. iv. 72. Miss Honour O’Grady would be her friend upon the occasion.

34 1874.  E. B. de Fonblanque, Life & Lab. A. Fonblanque, 16–7. The matter was at this point referred to two ‘friends,’ by whom a hostile meeting was arranged.

35   2.  Used loosely in various ways: e.g., applied to a mere acquaintance, or to a stranger, as a mark of goodwill or kindly condescension on the part of the speaker; by members of the ‘Society of Friends’ adopted as the ordinary mode of address (cf. 7). Also often ironically.

36   Similarly in parliamentary language, ‘my honourable friend’ is often used by members in referring to each other; so also ‘my learned friend’ is applied in the law courts by counsel to each other. Cf. 6.

37 c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 21/83. ‘Mine leue frend,’ seide þis holie Man.

38 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3229.        ‘Frend,’ he said, ‘þou wend in hij vntil mesopotani.’

39 c. 1375.  Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. B.), 368.        Oure sib men and oure wele-willandes, Oure frendes, tenandes, & seruandes.

40 1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xxii. 12. Frendm hou entridist thou hidir, nat hauynge brijd clothe? Ibid., xxvi. 50. Frend, wherto art thou comen?

41 c. 1470.  Henry the Minstrel, Wallace, II. 89.                        Gud freynd, pray I the, The schireffis serwand thow wald lat him be.

42 1508.  Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps. i. Wks. (1876), 2. Frendes this day I shall not declare vnto you ony parte of the epystle or gospell, whiche perauenture you doo abyde for to here at this tyme.

43 1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 204, 27 July, ¶ 6. It is, methinks, very unjust to laugh at a Quaker, because he has taken up a Resolution to treat you with a Word, the most expressive of Complaisance that can be thought of, and with an Air of good Nature and Charity calls you Friend.

44 1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1813), II. 195. ‘Nay, keep it, friend, keep it,’ said Dinah Plait, pressing the purse upon Angelina.

45 1859.  Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, ii. Dear friends, come and take this blessedness; it is offered to you; it is the good news that Jesus came to preach to the poor.

46 1890.  Boldrewood, Colonial Reform. (1891), 321. Those free-selecting friends of yours.

47   3.  A kinsman or near relation. Now only in pl. (one’s) relatives, kinsfolk, ‘people.’

48   This is the only sense of the word in the Scand. langs., where sense 1 is expressed by ON. vinr (Sw. vän, Da. ven); similarly in many HG. dialects, freund is ‘kinsman,’ the sense of ‘friend’ being expressed by guter freund (Kluge).

49 O. E. Chron., an. 1135. Þa namen his sune & his frend & brohten his lic to englelande.

50 c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, xvii. (1888), 41. Of his aȝene wiue and ec of his auene frienden.

51 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3015.        For, for þe birth of ysaac, Gret ioi can his frendes mak.

52 c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, ix. 225. For who that betraieth a nother & pryncipally his frende carnall ought not to lyve nor have ever ony worshyp.

53 1502.  Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), II. viii. 104. All the sones & doughters of Adam & of Eue the whiche were our fyrst frendes we sholde honoure in theyr lygne.

54 1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 106.            She I meane, is promis’d by her friends Vnto a youthfull Gentleman of worth.

55 1721.  J. Kelly, Scot. Prov., 103. Friends agree best at a distance. By Friends here is meant Relations, and they agree best when their Interests does not interfere.

56 Mod.  The prisoner will be handed over to the care of his friends. His friends are well-to-do people.

57   † 4.  A lover or paramour, of either sex. Obs.

58 1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, xviii. 67–8. Playse the, thenne, to haue mercy of this poure desolate frende [Dido], that shalle be sone broughte to the poynte mortalle.

59 1588.  Shaks., Loves Labour’s Lost, V. ii. 405.        O! neuer will I trust to speeches pen’d, Nor to the motion of a Schoole-boies tongue. Nor neuer come in vizard to my friend, Nor woo in rime like a blind-harpers songue.     (1603), Meas. for M., I. iv. 29. He hath got his friend with childe.

60 1765.  Foote, Commissary, I. Wks. 1799, II. 16. Time has been, when a gentleman wanted a friend, I could supply him with choice in an hour; but the market is spoiled, and a body might as soon procure a hare or a partridge as a pretty—.

61   5.  One who wishes (another, a cause, etc.) well; a sympathiser, favorer, helper, patron, or supporter. Const. of, to.

62 c. 1205.  Lay., 1614.        In to France he ferde þer he freond funde.

63 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14568.        To iurselem rede we þou wende, For þar es communli þi freind.

64 1382.  Wyclif, Prov. xxii. 11. Who looueth clennesse of herte, for the grace of his lippis shal han the king frend.

65 a. 1550.  Christis Kirke Gr., ix.        With that a freynd of his cry’d, fy!   And up ane arrow drew, He forgit it sa furiously,   The bow in flenderis flew.

66 1609.  Bible (Douay), 1 Macc. vii. 7. Let him punish al his frends and ayders.

67 1612.  Peacham, Graphice, II. iv. Her riding vpon Pegasus sheweth her swiftnes, & how shee is a friend to all studies especially to poetrie and all ingenious and pleasant inuentions.

68 1710.  Shaftesb., Advice to Author (1757), 143. The Minister, who was no Friend to the young Nobleman, fail’d not to aggravate the Message, inveigh’d publickly against him on this occasion, and to his face reproach’d him as a Traitor and Dishonourer of his Prince and Nation.

69 1782.  Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., II. IX. 206. The Gnostics, considering matter and material bodies as the source of all evil, were no friends to marriage, because if was a means of multiplying corporeal beings.

70 1876.  J. Parker, Paracl., II. xviii. 341. Physical science has a friend in every theologian.

71 1878.  Morley, Carlyle, Crit. Misc. Ser. I. 197–8. Are we really nearer to the permanent establishment of the new order, for what was done between 1789 and 1793? or were men thrown off the right track of improvement, by a movement which turned exclusively on abstract rights, which dealt with men’s ideas and habits as if they were instantaneously pliable before the aspirations of any government, and which by its violent and inconsiderate methods drove all these who should only have been friends of order into being the enemies of progress as well?

72   b.  Said of God or Christ.

73 c. 1325.  English Metrical Homilies, 23. Criste … warnes us ful fair als frend.

74 c. 1460.  Towneley Myst. (Surtees), 14.          Abelle.  Cain, I reyde thou so teynd That God of heven be thi freynd.

75 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xx. 43.        Hald God thy freind, evir stabill be him stand,   He will the[e] confort in all misaventeur.

76 1754.  Chatham, Lett. Nephew, iv. 26. Whose utmost gifts are poor compared to those he daily receives at the hands of his never-failing Almighty Friend.

77   c.  Friend in or at court: one who has ability and disposition to help another by his influence in high quarters.

78 c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 5541.        For freend in court ay better is Than peny in [his] purs certis.   [orig. Qu’ades vaut miex amis en voie Que ne font deniers en corroie].

79 1539.  Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 14. A frend in court is worth a peny in purse.

80 1655.  Dickson, On Ps. cv. 16. When the Lord was to bring his people into Egypt, he provided so as they should have a friend at Court before they came: He sent a man before them, even Joseph.

81 1848.  Dickens, Dombey, xxxviii. I shouldn’t wonder—friends at court you know—but never you mind, mother, just now.

82 1886.  Pall Mall G., 23 Sept., 11/2. Despite the activity of the squatters’ friends ‘at court’ (that is, in the public land offices at Sydney).

83   d.  transf. Anything helpful.

84 c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 149–50. Wherfore spiritus exaliþ, þe whiche þat ben freendis boþe to þe body and also to þe soule.

85 1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 458.                        Feare ore-shades me: Good Expedition be my friend.

86 1671.  Narborough, Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1711), 186. Here Brandy was our best Friend, for it kept them always Fox’d.

87   6.  As opposed to enemy in various senses: One who is on good terms with another, not hostile or at variance; one who is on the same side in warfare, politics, etc.

88 a. 1000.  Elene, 953 (Gr.). Se feond & se freond.

89 a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 231. Wa an alle his cyne rice him were frend oþer fend.

90 c. 1300.  K. Alis., 121.        He disgysed him anon, That him no kneow freond neo fon.

91 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 7853. Fforo beri þe bodys of hor bold frendys.

92 c. 1440.  York Myst., xx. 173.        Than is þe fourthe for frende or foo, That fadir and modir honnoure ay.

93 1508.  Dunbar, Flyting w. Kennedie, 85.          My freyndis thow reprovit with thy pen? Thow leis, tratour!

94 1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., V. i. 26. Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? Mes. A friend.

95 1696.  trans. Du Mont’s Voy. Levant, 175. They usually treat Christians with intolerable Insolence, except the French, whom they call Friends and Allies.

96 1717.  Bolingbroke, Lett. to Windham, Wks. 1809, I. 7. From our enemies we expect evil treatment of every sort, we are prepared for it, we are animated by it, and we sometimes triumph in it: but when our friends abandoned us, when they wound us, and when they take, to do this, an occasion where we stand the most in need of their support, and have the best title to it, the firmest mind finds it hard to resist.

97 1782.  Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. Preface, p. xx. If any such [mistakes] be pointed out to me, whether it be by a friend or an enemy, I shall be glad to avail myself of the intimation, in case there should be a demand for a second edition.

98 1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xlii. ‘Ye can ken naething waur o’ me than that I hae been willing to save the life o’ friend and foe.’

99   b.  Phrases: To be, † hold, keep, make friends with, † to make friends to: to be or get on good terms with; also absol. to be friends. † To have, etc., to (at) friend, i.e., as a ‘friend,’ on one’s side.

100 1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 28.        So forward on his way (with God to frend) He passed forth, and new aduenture sought.

101 1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen IV., III. iii. 203. P. Hen. I am good Friends with my Father, and may do any thing.            Ibid. (1599), Much Ado, I. i. 91.   Mess.  I will hold friends with you Lady.     Ibid. (1601), Jul. C., III. i. 143.   Bru.  I know that we shall haue him well to Friend.     Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., I. iii. 182. Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends To the strict deputie.     Ibid. (1605), Macb., IV. iii. 10.   Mal.  What I beleeue, Ile waile; What know, beleeue; and what I can redresse, As I shall finde the time to friend: I wil.     Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., V. i. 140.                 From him Giue you all greetings, that a King (at friend) Can send his Brother.

102 1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VII. § 24. The King had no Port to Friend, by which he could bring Ammunition to Oxford.

103 1647.  N. Bacon, Discourse of the Laws & Government of England, II. xxxix. (1682), 173. It is but little that can be said of Peace in these times, wherein so little freedom was found from Foreign pretensions, and Intestine irregularities, or both; and yet the people were never more resolved against the former, nor secure against the latter, and had God to Friend in all.

104 1657.  R. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 108. He that can by his own Industry, and activity (having youth and strength to friends,) raise his fortune, from a small beginning to a very great one.

105 1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. ii. 23. But if a party of 500, or 600 men, or more, were minded to travel from the North to the South Seas, they may do it without asking leave of the Indians; though it be much better to be friends with them.

106 1715–20.  Pope, Iliad, VIII. 250.        Sole should he sit, with scarce a God to Friend, And see his Trojans to the Shades descend.

107 1823.  J. Wilson, Trials Marg. Lyndsay, xxiii. 190. Will you be friends with me again, Mary?

108 1873.  Black, Pr. Thule, xvi. 255. You will never make friends with me by speaking ill of my husband.

109 1884.  W. E. Norris, Thirlby Hall, v. You must keep friends with her, or she may do you an ill turn one of these days.

110   † c.  Heavy friend, small friend: an enemy. Cf. BACKFRIEND 1.

111 1606.  Holland, Sueton., 182. His Aunt Lepida likewise being in trouble, hee deposed against, in the open face of the Court, thereby to gratifie his mother her heavie friend, and who followed the suite hotly against her.

112 1767.  Wesley, Wks. (1872), III. 270. So hitherto all the bad labour of my small friends is lost.

113   7.  A member of the Society of Friends, a Quaker.

114 1679.  Establ. Test, 24. He passes for one of their Friends.

115 1708.  Whiting (title), A Catalogue of Friends Books; Written by many of the People, called Quakers.

116 1796.  T. Twining, Trav. Amer. (1894), 67. It is probable that his name is held in respect by the ‘Friends’ of Pennsylvania; but I never heard it mentioned in general society, nor observed that it was common.

117 1870.  Whittier, Pr. Wks. (1889), III. 307. I am not blind to the shortcomings of Friends.

118   8.  attrib. and Comb., as † friend-foe, -killer, -maker, -spectator; friend-betraying, -finding, -making, † -pretending, † -seeming adjs. Also † friend-pipe, the calumet; friend-stead a. Sc., ‘possessing a friend’ (Jam.), befriended; friend-strong a., having many friends.

119 1645.  Quarles, Sol. Recant., I. 37.        Where sullen wealth, and *friend-betraying treasure May passe in barter for repented Pleasure.

120 1846.  Browning, Soul’s Trag., I. 63.                    Luitolfo was the proper *Friend-making, everywhere *friend-finding soul, Fit for the sunshine, so, it followed him.

121 a. 1618.  Sylvester, Miracle Peace, Wks. (Grosart), II. 42.        Mid all these mischiefes, while the *friend-foe strangers,   With us, against us, had intelligence;   Henry our King, our Father, voyds our dangers,   And (ô heav’ns wonder) planteth Peace in France.

122 1586.  J. Hooker, Girald. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 182/2. He received his just reward of … a *friend killer.

123 1580.  T. Lupton, Sivqila; too Good to be True, 118. Wee haue an olde Prouerbe with vs, That the lawe is ended as a man is friended: and the chiefe friende and *friendmaker is money.

124 1775.  Adair, Amer. Ind., 167. The Indian methods of making peace, and of renewing old friendship. They first smoke out of the *friend-pipe, and eat together.

125 1661.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 274. The simple earl was persuaded, by his *friend-pretending foes, to confess the fact, as the only way to find favour; and so, freely acknowledging more against himself than others could prove, yea or himself did intend, soon after found the proverb true, ‘Confess, and be beheaded.’

126 1620.  Melton, Astrolog., 74. Which the Deuil perceiuing, seduce them either by subtill or craftie meanes, or by apparances, in fawning and *friend-seeming shewes, or beautifull and amiable shapes.

127 1632.  Brome, North. Lasse, Prol.        Gallants and *Friends-spectators will yee see A strain of Wit that is not Poetry?

128 1637.  Rutherford, Lett., clxxxviii. (1863), I. 462. I am sure that while Christ lives, I am well enough *friend-stead.

129 a. 1618.  Sylvester, Sonn., vii. Wks. (Grosart), II. 322. Our *friend-strong Muse shall use the helpe of Strangers.

130   † B.  adj. Well-disposed, friendly, not hostile. (Cf. ENEMY a.) Obs.

131 1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. lxvii. (Tollem. MS.). Fresche bred and clene, made of whete, is moste frende and acordynge to kynde.

132 c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 69. A fisician þat was frend to þe freendis of þe pacient.

133 1574.  Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep., 28. The citie of Sagunto was alwayes friend and allied with the Romanes, & mortall enimie to the Carthagians.

134 1600.  E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio (ed. 2), 33. They were in a strong lodging, ioyning to a friend towne.

135 1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., V. iii. 18.                    That I may rest assur’d Whether yond Troopes are Friend or Enemy.

136 1623.  Bingham, Xenophon, 36. Passe you not with much labour many plaines, that are friend to vs?

137 1690.  S. Sewall, Diary, 10 March (1878), I. 315. Enquired what might be most expedient for the present settlement of the Friend-Indians, so as may be for the safety of themselves and English; in order to passing a Law for them in the Generall Court.

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