from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Friend \Friend\ (fr[e^]nd), n. [OR. frend, freond, AS.
fre['o]nd, prop. p. pr. of fre['o]n, fre['o]gan, to love;
akin to D. vriend friend, OS. friund friend, friohan to love,
OHG. friunt friend, G. freund, Icel. fr[ae]ndi kinsman, Sw.
fr[aum]nde. Goth. frij[=o]nds friend, frij[=o]n to love.
[root]83. See {Free}, and cf. {Fiend}.]
1. One who entertains for another such sentiments of esteem,
respect, and affection that he seeks his society and
welfare; a wellwisher; an intimate associate; sometimes,
an attendant.
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Want gives to know the flatterer from the friend.
--Dryden.
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A friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
--Prov. xviii.
24.
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2. One not inimical or hostile; one not a foe or enemy; also,
one of the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly
feelings may be assumed. The word is some times used as a
term of friendly address.
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Friend, how camest thou in hither? --Matt. xxii.
12.
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3. One who looks propitiously on a cause, an institution, a
project, and the like; a favorer; a promoter; as, a friend
to commerce, to poetry, to an institution.
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4. One of a religious sect characterized by disuse of outward
rites and an ordained ministry, by simplicity of dress and
speech, and esp. by opposition to war and a desire to live
at peace with all men. They are popularly called Quakers.
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America was first visited by Friends in 1656. --T.
Chase.
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5. A paramour of either sex. [Obs.] --Shak.
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{A friend at court} or {A friend in court}, one disposed to
act as a friend in a place of special opportunity or
influence.
{To be friends with}, to have friendly relations with. "He's
. . . friends with C[ae]sar." --Shak.
{To make friends with}, to become reconciled to or on
friendly terms with. "Having now made friends with the
Athenians." --Jowett (Thucyd.).
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