COMFORTING • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Comforting

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/kˈəmfərtɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Comfort v. t. (past & past part. comforted; pres. part. comforting)

1.

To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate. (Obs.) "God's own testimony... doth not a little comfort and confirm the same."

2.

To assist or help; to aid. (Obs.) "I... can not help the noble chevalier: God comfort him in this necessity!"

3.

To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to console; to cheer. "Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men." "That we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction." "A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command."

Synonyms: To cheer; solace; console; revive; encourage; enliven; invigorate; inspirit; gladden; recreate; exhilarate; refresh; animate; confirm; strengthen. 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." 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.

adjective

comforting adj.

1.

Providing freedom from worry.

Synonyms: cheering, satisfying.

2.

Affording comfort or solace.

Synonyms: consolatory, consoling.

See images of 'Comforting'

Etymology of 'Comforting'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Comforting" Quotes from Famous Books

... highly crude kind of optimist. Nevertheless the man in the street was right in his fundamental instinct, as he always is. Ibsen, in his pale northern style, is an optimist; but for all that he is a depressing person. The optimism of Ibsen is less comforting than the pessimism of Dante; just as a Norwegian sunrise, however splendid, is colder than ...

— George Bernard Shaw • Gilbert K. Chesterton

... which prevail in the mother-country. We do not undertake at this time to subscribe to everything we find in this book, nor are we now about to criticize its contents. Our wish is to introduce it to our readers as a comforting proof that there is a leaven yet working among our English kinsmen which it would be extremely unjust in us not to recognize. We quote an English critic, who says:—"The work is exceedingly able, as well as exceedingly ...

— Atlantic Monthly, Volume 10, Number 59, September, 1862 • Various

... could be. And yet he gave terse expression to what may perhaps be regarded as the most satisfactory hypothesis as to the primary purpose of animal sounds. They are a means by which each indicates to others the fact of his comforting presence; and they still, to a large extent, retain their primary function. The chirping of grasshoppers, the song of the cicada, the piping of frogs in the pool, the bleating of lambs at the hour of dusk, the lowing of contented cattle, the call-notes of the migrating host of ...

— Introduction to the Science of Sociology • Robert E. Park

... conditions to obtaining 'grace,' or direct illumination from God,—even then would not my reason turn round and revenge herself upon me? For surely even then my habitual scepticism would make me say to myself—'this is all very sublime and very comforting; but what evidence have you to give me that the whole business is anything more than self-delusion? The wish was probably father to the thought, and you might much better have performed your "act of will" by going in for a course of Indian hemp.' Of course a Christian would ...

— Thoughts on Religion • George John Romanes

... missionaries. There is not one believer amongst us who sees any objection to it, and several have expressed that it seems to be of the Lord, and that thus we could help, as churches, in the going forth of missionaries. This is very comforting to me, as the Lord confirms me still more, through this unanimity, in its being His ...

— A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Mueller - Written by Himself, First Part • George Mueller

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