Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒmfort n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒmfort n. Also cum-, coum-, con-, cun-, comford, counfort(ht, confor(d. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Encouragement; (b) courage, assurance, trust; cold ~; (c) a source of encouragement or trust; (d) ben of god ~, be of good cheer, feel assured; ben of wers ~, be distressed.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1521 : Ȝour comfort mai him keuere & his sorwe slake.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.449 : By comfort [L hortatu] of Edwynus feng þe fey of holy cherche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)333b/a : Conforte of voice pleseþ and conforteth þe herte and wittes in alle disese and trauayle of workes and werynesse.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)512 : He [God] spekes wyth þat ilke In comly comfort..and cortays wordez.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)369 : Rebuke me neuer..Þaȝ I forloyne..But kyþez me kyndely your coumforde.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)2/24 : Y truste..þat he schal resceyue into his laboure chereful counfort.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)297b/b : Þe scorpioun dredeþ and leseþ comfort, whanne he seeþ þe lusard.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)264 : Now is Jonas þe Jwe jugged to drowne..colde watz his cumfort & his care huge.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4083 : He that was wisest..In whom whilom was..her hool confort and her affiaunce.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2760 : Good hope such comfort hath hym yive, Which maketh wene that he shall be Delyvered.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)329/274 : My comforth was caught fro me clene..I was past all my powre.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.137 : To speke with your tenaunts ther, to put hem in comfort.
- (1467) Paston (Gairdner)4.283 : Purvey that thei may have sume comfort, that thei be no more discoraged.
- (1473) Paston (Gairdner)5.179 : The werst that I herde was that my moodre wyll not doo so moche ffor me as she put me in comffort off.
- a1475 *Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)27a : Softely bete þe watir, & þat wyll gyfe hir [hawk] comforde to baþe.
c
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)45/29 : Þanne schal crist be al oure counfort, wheþer euere we be.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3960 : My concell, my comforthe..Of all knyghtes þe kynge.
- a1500(1455) Battle St.Albans (PRO C 47/37/3/4-11:WR)95/81 : We therefore, Lord, prey to The to be oure coumfort & defendere.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)22.5 : Haldand my thoght in the, that is my comfort.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)318/2 : A! lord and Severayne Saviour, our Comfort and our Counseler!
d
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Bar.4.5 : Be thou of betere coumfort [L animæquior].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7818 : Dauid, quen he herd þis word, Was he neuer o wers comfortd; His hend he wrang.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.890 : Forthy loke, of good comfort thou be!
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Phil.2.19 : That Y be of good coumfort [WB(1): in good ynwitt, or gladnesse; L bono animo sim].
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3034 : To ben of gode comforth þese clerkes he badde, Bot þey wrongon hurre hondys & weptone for drede.
- a1525(1470) Rebell.Lin.(ArmsV 435)8 : Bidding thayme to be of good chere and comforthe.
2.
(a) A feeling of relief, consolation, or gratification; cacchen, geten, taken ~, feel relieved, be comforted; don, maken ~, console or comfort (sb.); (b) a source of relief, consolation, or gratification; a comforting fact or thought.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)48a : Sum ancre þe feleð se swiðe hire fondunges..þet na gastelich cunfort ne mei hire gleadien.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)422/53 : In purgatorie nis no confort bote..of þe hope of Ioye aftur-ward.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)641 : Elinge ich ȝeode here al one; confort nadich non.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9804 : Confort non him nas.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6252 : Þer hem com to gret comfort.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)710 : Ȝhe keste him..And ȝaf him confort..Þat al is care wente awai.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)686 : He shal haue comfort and solaz Off þe holi gost.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)120/2467 : Wailawo, Nel ich hennes neuere go, Ne confor [vr. comfort] take neuer mo.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)96/33 : Yblissed byeþ þo þet hyer wepeþ, uor hi ssolle habbe þet confort of god.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)142/25 : Þe greate zuetnesse of confort þet god yefþ..to þan þet him dredeþ.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)5267 : Sone þei cauȝt cumfort.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1248 : Ne creature..That may me helpe or doon confort in this.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.740 : Whan..the soule hath lost the confort of god, thanne seketh he an ydel solas of worldly thynges.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1030 : In yeuynge of good conseil and comfort goostly and bodily.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3077 : Bot til sche wiste hou that it stode, Sche hath no confort in hire herte.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.826 : Euery confort possible..They doon to hir.
- a1400 Rolle Encom.Jesu (Hrl 1022)186 : Þat name þe qwilk gyfs comforth to me in al angwys.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3279 : Forto fynde vnto hir dissesse Hasty confort.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.37.35 : Whanne..thei schulden peese the sorewe of the fadir, he nolde take counfort [L consolationem accipere].
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2508 : Comfort of gud hope may he fele, Þat here lyves wele.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1959 : Hopyng in herte that sumtyme ye Comfort and ese shull me sende.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2861 : To gete comfort, to hym thou goo.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)6/15 : Þa þat er..meke, þai sall haue cumfort.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)170 : Myn hand in his he tok anon, Of which I confort caughte.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)78/37 : Þat of þis I myght take comforth & synge with gladnes.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)29/30 : It was to hir gret solas & cowmfort whan sche was chedyn..for spekyng of vertu.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)198 : Styrande hym to newe compassione, newe luffe, newe gostely comforthe.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)26.176 : Whanne Of this tydinges herde sche telle, Somme Comfort In hire herte befelle.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)113/51 : Nowe in my sawle grete ioie haue I, I am all cladde in comforte clere.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)168/175 : My comforte were fully lorn If we xuld longe A-sondyr ben.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)189 : He was botyd of mekylle care, And gode comfort to hym hath tane.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)13 : Make me solas and comfort, and chere me!
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)11/5 : We seke comfort eiþer of oþer & to releue þe hert.
b
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2373 : Ich wolle..a goed conffort, þe holy gost, ȝow sende.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.32 : Flour of virgines..Thow confort of vs wrecches.
- c1390 Treat.Mass (Vrn)15 : Of a talkyng I wol ȝou kiþe, Cumfort to al Mon-kynde: Þat is þe Meedes of þe Masse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.261 : It is a confort..To him..To sen an other in his peine.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)485 : I keuered me a cumfort, þat now is caȝt fro me.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)17.136 : Pouerte..defendeth þe flessh fro folyes..a collateral confort, crystes owen sonde.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.528 : God wold I were aryved in the port Of deth..to me it were a gret comfort.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.845 : Yet thow hast this comfort..That, as hire joies moten overgon, So mote hire sorwes passen everechon.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.945 : She of whom rist al thi wo Hereafter may thy comfort be also.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.1.8 : Thow that art sovereyn confort of angwissous corages.
- (?a1430) Hoccl.MG (Hnt HM 111)15 : Benigne confort of vs wrecches alle!
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)1782 : He es my lufe and my lorde, My joye and my comforde [vr. counforde].
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)77 : Queen of comfort..To whom I seeche for my medicyne.
- c1450 Heil be þou marie þe (Lamb 853)9 : Heil comeli queene, coumfort of care!
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.140 : He hath ben a grete comfort to me syn ye departyd hens.
3.
(a) Pleasure, delight, gratification; cacchen, haven ~, enjoy (sth.); don ~, amuse (sb.); ~ and joie; (b) spiritual gratification, joy.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Orison Lord (Lamb 487)185 : Ha haueþ..cunfort on eorþe, þet is fikel and fals.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)832 : Þat oþer comsede to carp of cumfort & ioie.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.773 : Confort ne myrthe is noon, To ryde by the weye domb as a stoon.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4067 : Þys Florens hadde cumforte and game At hys bere..And loued hyt moche.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)459 : Þe raven..croukez for comfort, when carayne he fyndez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1011 : Wawen & þe wale burde Such comfort of her compaynye caȝten togeder.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1254 : Hit ar ladyes in-noȝe þat leuer wer..Haf þe..in hor holde..Keuer hem comfort & colen her carez [etc.].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3036 : Whoos hertly Ioye..and confort Was in this child.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3851 : This Tygre..vnto hem did gret confort, And Cowde playe and make gret disport.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1168 : Syn that I was wrought Ne felte I swich a comfort, dar I seye; She comth to-nyght.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2802 : Swete-Thought..makith lovers to have remembraunce Of comfort and of high plesaunce.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)11/11 : Many men has grete lyking and comforth to here speke of straunge thinges.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)47/6 : Ierusalem, of whilk sight þai hafe grete ioy and comforth after þaire grete trauaile.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)516 : The kyng with other knightes hade comford..auntres to telle Of chiualry.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)8 : Sum..has comforth to carpe..Of curtaissy of knyȝthode.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)7 : To haue counfort and ioye of mannes felishep.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)8/73 : For se muchel confort is in his grace.
- a1425(c1340) Rolle Psalter (LdMisc 286)127.4 com. : Thi werkis..gif the coumfort and delite in contemplacyon of god.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)119/246 : Þen Mychael let him to gret cumford, In ioy and blis to haue reward.
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)16/21 : All þat he heris or sese..turnes hym till comforthe and gladnes.
4.
(a) Alleviation or relief (of poverty, illness, suffering); (b) a source of alleviation, a remedy.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.74 : I am Calkas, That alderfirst yaf comfort to youre nede.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.318 : Who shal now yeven comfort to my peyne?
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6506 : Whanne I see beggers quakyng..I entremete not of her fare..for me, comfort gete they noon.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)26/2 : Til þa þat ere febil sal ye finde helpe and cumforth.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)268 : He cryeth on to god to send him confort.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)244 : For comfort..he cried wel loude.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)146.3 com. : The sacramentis, in the whilke we hafe comforth til we perfytly be hale.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)4b : Of fleschliche fondunges & gasteliche baðe, & confort [Nero: kunfort; L remedijs] aȝeines ham.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)61b : Aȝein alle fondunges moni cunne froure..Þe þridde cunfort [Nero: kunfort; L remedium] is [etc.].
5.
(a) Assistance, support; for (in) ~ of, for the benefit of; (b) support of wrongdoing, abetment.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2568 : [Gold and silver] ben thextremetes To whiche, after the propretes, Hath every metal his desir, With help and confort of the fyr.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)4.151 : For þe kynges profit, Ac nouȝte for conforte of þe comune.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.75 : Lordene sones..For þe ryght of þis reame ryden a-ȝens oure enemys, In confort of þe comune and þe kynges worshep.
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)4 : O worthi noble kyng Henry the ferthe..God hath the chose in comfort of ous alle.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11276 : Ne ȝow sechis no socour..Ne no conford to cache of no kyngis.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)339/26 : Þe King of Portyngale hadde þe victory of his Enymyez, þrouȝ help and comfort of our Englysch men.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.239 : By hir counsaile and confort [L hortatu] Antonius meovede a civile bataille aȝenst Octovianus.
- (1450) RParl.5.213b : That the same..Comfortours appere before you..to answere..of the same..comfort.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)275 : If evyr..thei make ony gadering in coumfort of Richard, sumtyme Kyng, thei to be punchid as tretouris.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)37 : Not onli þei þat done, but and þei þat consentun wiþ þe doars..or ȝeuen conseyl or confort.
6.
Invigoration, strengthening, or something that invigorates.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)29a/b : Bodyes of bestis beþ liȝter aftir mete þan to fore, for comfort of hete.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)280b/a : Þe hert..takeþ comfort and strengþe of coldnesse of þe water and scapeþ þe hunters.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.253 : After þat bitter barke..Is a kirnelle of conforte, kynde to restore.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)15a : Caule..is a grete comford to þe stomake.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)338 : The wyne..of the fourthe tonne..is to feble, and with out sustentacion or comforte.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1500(?a1425) Boeth.Bk.Comfort (BodAuct F.3.5)228/70 : This dialoge [Boethius' de consolatione philosophiae] in this oon person as it were too, oon desolate and another full of counfortht, is departid into fyue bokes.
Note: New form counfortht added to form section.
Note: 'counfortht' = consolation, solace.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2.(a).
- ?a1500(?a1425) Boeth.Bk.Comfort (BodAuct F.3.5)229/90 : He turnes him inwarde into him self..and remembers him of olde wisdomes that he had..lerid, and put hem in his boke callid Boke of Counfort.
Note: New sense.
Note: Gloss: "In title of a philosophical work: Bok of ~, Boethius' De consolatione philosophiae."
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.219 : Þe creatures þat were i-ȝeue man to solas of brutelnesse, to susteynynge of confort [Higd.(2): the sustentacle of recreacion; L ad sustentaculum recreationis], to bere vp febilnesse..now for þe moste deel..fleeþ mannys siȝt, and his felawschippe..and wil nouȝt of his lordschippe..ad dredeþ sore to lyue and dwolle wiþ hym.
Note: New sense: "Physical comfort, ease."
Note: Context: As humans disobeyed and turned from God, so the beasts, created for their comfort, flee them.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--all notes per MLL