comfort 
2. Relief in aflliction, sorrow, or trouble of any 
kind; support ; solace; consolation: as, to bring 
comfort to the afflicted. 
There shal the! fyn.l.- <-<.n(<.ri of Chrlstes magnificence. 
./,,,',.,,/, ,./ 4rinatMi(I. !:. 'i 1 . *->, p. w. 
Hcil r..nirli queen.- >'iiin furl of care ! 
Ihiniiix I" Violin, etc. (K. E. T. 8.), p. 4. 
3. A state of tranquil or moderate enjoyment, 
resulting from the satisfaction of bodily wants 
and freedom from care or anxiety ; a feeling or 
state of well-being, satisfaction, or content. 
A welle of yoo.l frcsshc water, wUohfl WM modM to OUT 
nimfortli. N.i- /.'. liiiiilliinli'. I'ylgrymiiiie, p. 17. 
llonie-liorn. heartfelt comfort, rooted strong 
In Industry, ami bearing such rare fruit 
As wealth may never purchase. /.. // .sv ; ;.ii/, .-./ 
They knew luxury ; they knew beggary ; but they n.v. i 
knew comfort, \i,i,',ini:i,i. i;.,-. !) i Johnson. 
4. That which gives or produces the feeling of 
welfare and satisfaction ; that which furnishes 
moderate enjoyment or content. 
To pass conilnodionslv this lit.', sustain . I 
By liim with many <"(/. .('*. Milion. P. l..,\ lo-i 
Our creature comfort*. M. lli'nrii. Comment. I's. xxxvli. 
Our ehiffest 1-1:111 furl is the little i-hild. 
Tciiniimn, Princess, V. 
5. Same as eomfiirtalih: Cold comfort, see ,-.,;./. 
Out of comfort*, in trouble ; in distress. 
I hearing the fellow so forlorn.- and mil ../>.. i,i/..rf with 
hia luggage KIIVI- him . . . three halt' pence. 
Sash, llaue with you to Saffronwaldcii. 
= Syn. Comfort, Connotation. Solace, relii-f. succor, eaae, 
help. Comfort has a range of meaning not share,! by the 
others, approaching that of pleasure, butof the ipm t, <lnr 
able, satisfying, heart-felt sort, meeting the needs most 
felt; as contrasted with connotation, it ordinarily applies 
to smaller or less known griefs, an. I is more jMsitive and 
tender, and less formal. As contrasted with solace, com- 
fort ami i-iiiifinttitinn may or m:iy not proceed from a l>er- 
son, while solace is got from things. Comfort may be 
merely physical; consolation and xoiace are spiritual. 
Alas I to-day 1 would give everything 
To see a friend's face, or to hear a voice 
That had the slightest tone of comfort In it ! 
l.onufrlloie, Judas Maccabicus, iv. 3. 
He who doth not smoke hath either known no great 
griefs, or refuseth himself the softest connotation, next to 
that which conies from heaven. 
llnlm-r, What will he Do with it? 1. . 
Seeking but to borrow 
From the trembling hope of morrow, 
Solace for the weary day. 
Whittier, The Ranger. 
comfortable (kmn'fer-ta-bl), . and n. [Ear- 
ly mod. E. also citmfortttblc ; < ME. comforta- 
ble, confortable, < OF. confortable, comfortable, 
F. confortable, affording help or consolation, < 
conforter, strengthen, help, comfort: see coro- 
fort, v., and -able.] I. a. 1. Being in a state 
of ease or moderate enjoyment, as after sick- 
ness or pain ; enjoying contentment and ease 
or repose. 
We took hasty counsel as to moving and making com- 
fortable the more desperately injured. 
J. K. Ilomner, The Color-Guard, xll. 
Kor, something duller than at first, 
Nor wholly comfortable, 
I sit, my empty glass reversed, 
And thrumming on the table. 
Tennyson, Will Waterproof 
2. Cheerful ; disposed to enjoyment. 
His comfortable temper has forsook him. 
Ska*., T. of A., 111. 4. 
Be comfortable and courageous, my sweet wife. 
T. Winthrop, Hist. New England, I. 438. 
3. Attended with or producing comfort ; free 
from or not causing disquiet of body or mind : 
as, to be in comfortable, circumstances. 
Who can promise him a comfortable appearance before 
his dreadful judge? Simth. 
Secure in ignorance, he entertained a comfortable opin- 
ion of himself, and never doubted that he was qualified 
to Instruct and enliven the public. 
Giford, Int. to Ford's Plays, p. Iv. 
4. Giving comfort; cheering; affording help, 
ease, or consolation ; serviceable, (n) of persona. 
[Obsolete or archaic.] 
A comly prince he was to loke vppon, 
Anil therwith [all] right good and honorable, 
And In the feld a knyght right comfortable. 
Oenerydes (E. E. T. S.), I. 2212. 
Be comfortable to my mother, your mistress, and make 
much of her. tsliak.. All's Well, 1. 1. 
Saints. I have rebuilt 
1 1 -J3 
aging chariir1,-r< Mat. xl. 28: John Hi. 16; I 'Inn. I. K, : I 
John ii. I), f-.ll.iw IIIK the Absolution, and pi.>..liii_- ti 
Snrsilni (..r. la. Tln-y were first Introduced, apparently 
from the "Consultation ..f Archbishop Hermann of ' 
logn, -(l.'^.'l), in the order of the Communion of : 
uilirll, U it). 111. . nn!' --H.H HI. I A I 'Solution. 111. Y Illl 
between Consecration andCommnni"n. I.. nr_- iniin.-.liatcl.v 
followed by the Pray, r of llillnl.lc Access. = Syn. 3 
II. H. A thickly wadded and quilted bed- 
cover. AI-M niinl'ii-i and I'liiiifni -ti r. [U. S.] 
comfortableness (kum'fer-ta-iil-ues), n. The 
state of being comfortable. 
comfortably (kum'fer-ta-bli), mlr. In a corn- 
manner, (a) with ea.se or comfort : as, to 
(6) Of things. 
Rijte as contrtcioun is confortable (hinge, conscience wote 
wel, 
K. fresh the patients, and transfer them roiafnrinnln to 
the boats for I'.aton lloiigf. 
J. K. /liamrr, The Color-Guard, xll. 
(M) With chccrfnlneu. 
U nli Unit anon Clarlonas be ganne 
To take hir chere in..r epnAnoNv, 
NntwItlixtiMidyng she was IK. the pale and wanne. 
i, 1 - -. I - I. I. T.M. 
(c) In a manner to give comfort or consolation. 
Speak >.- >'i>iiif'>rtiilitii to .!.-! nsalein. Isa. xl. 2. 
COmfortativet (kum'fer-ta-tiv), a. and n. [= F. 
riiH/iirtntil'= Pr. confortatiti = Sp. Pg. It. r- 
fortatiro, < ML. as if " con for tati rii.i, < roiifurtn- 
tux, pp. of confortarr, strengthen, help, com- 
fort: see comfort, r., -atr 1 , and -in-.] I. n. 
Tending to promote ease or comfort; capable 
of making comfortable. 
The lime that llth in Ills liertc maketh hym lyjte of 
speche, 
And is companable and mnfnrtaltif n CryA bit b>n. 
/'/..< J'/tinlll (H), XV. -Jl.'i. 
It is necessarle that tho thingis that schal cure this sijk- 
nes be temperate, hoot, and moist, and a litil attractyue, 
and to the synous confortatyiic. 
Book of Quinte Kumnce (ed. Fumivall), p. 16. 
The odour and smell of wine Is very comfortatioe. 
Time's Storehouse, p. .188 (Ord M8.). 
II. n. That which gives or ministers to com- 
fort. 
The two hundred crowns In gold ... as a cordial and 
comfortatice I carry next my heart. 
Jarri*, tr. of Don Quixote, II. Iv. 6. 
comforter (kum'fer-ter), . [Early mod. E. 
also cumforter ; < comfort + -er 1 .] 1. One who 
comforts or consoles; one who supports and 
strengthens the mind in distress, danger, or 
weakness. 
I looked ... for comforters, but I found none. 
Ps. Ixtx. 20. 
This very prayer of Christ obtained angels to be sent 
him, as comforter! in his agony. 
Hooker, Ecclen. Polity, v. 48. 
2. [cap.] The Holy Spirit, whose office it is to 
comfort, strengthen, and support the Christian. 
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the 
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all 
things. John xiv. 28. 
3. A knitted or crocheted woolen scarf, long 
and narrow, for tying round the neck in cold 
weather. 4. Same as comfortable. [U. S.] 
comfortful (kum'fert-ful), a. [< comfort + 
-ful, 1.] Full of comfort. KuskiH. 
comfortless (kum'fert-les), a. [Early mod. E. 
also cumfortless, < ME. comforteleg, coumf artless; 
< comfort + -less.] Without comfort; destitute 
of or unattended by any satisfaction or enjoy- 
ment, (a) Of persons. 
I will not leave you eam/ortlea. John xiv. 18. 
(Ii) Of things. 
Yet shall not my death be comfortlc*s. 
Sir P. Sidney. 
Where was a Cave, ywrought by wondrous art, 
Deepe, darke, uneasy, dolefull, comfortlesse. 
Spenser, F. Q., I. v. 36. 
comfortlessly (kum'fert-les-li), adv. In a com- 
fortless manner. 
comfortlessness (kum'fert-les-nes), n. The 
state or quality of being comfortless. 
comfortmentt (kum'fert-ment), M. [< comfort 
+ -meat; = Sp. confortamiento, < ML. conforta- 
mentum, < confortare, comfort. See comfort, r.] 
The act of administering comfort; entertain- 
ment. 
Gracious and fauourable letters ... for the gentle COM- 
fortmenl and entertainment of the saide Ambassadour. 
Hakluyt's Voyages, I. 288. 
comfortress (kum'fer-tres). n. [< comforter + 
-ess.] A woman who affords comfort. [Kare.] 
To be your comfortress, and to preserve you. 
B. Jonson, Volpone, ill. 6. 
coming 
' 1,. rniiiiriniirr. strengthen : we i-initinii. 
<'f. miiK'iliild.) A name given to several Euro- 
peau and Asiatic plants of the genus Nymyt/iy- 
IIIIH. natural order Jlnriii/iinii < n . n. i,,t ,,f u,,. 
lolnnion <omfrc>, .S. <</fin'ml/r, oft.-n .'illtivat. .1 in Aln.Ti 
can garil.-n.-> i usi-it m .1. > .wtiotj 
in .|\-nt<-! > . rlnonl<- Mian I! HUA fonnfrly In 
M-!i i. nut. a* K vulni-rary, an.! henre als.. called bruinf- 
iciirt. The prickly < i^i-nm um, tronith 
4-aMls, IftDOWKNMWlMtwiaelj < nltlvuU-d as a forage-plant. 
See SyittitfiifttiHt. 
h.-iU-, consolida major, it minor .li.'itnr 
ilyy (var. ilayseys), /' ...... ft ''" p. 97. 
Contirr [read toiijirr] [K. !, til,- ln-rli ri>//i/vi/, roii!>onn<l 
ass ear, kniti.a.'k, hackwort. Cotgratr. 
Saracen's comfrey, the ragwort, Stnrcio Jarobaa. 
Spotted comfrey. Hi. luni:n..it, /-"liiumaria aftcinalit. 
Wild comfrey, "file I mt.. I stat, Cynagtouvu. 
comic (kom'ik), n. and n. [= F. eomiuiie = Sp. 
comico = Pg. It. rnmirii = 1). komii-k = Sw. knanl. 
(cf. G. komixch = Dan. komixk), < L. rmiiirun, < 
Gr. Kufintuc,, prop, of or pertaining to revelry or 
festivity, being the adj. otitu/iof, revelry, festiv- 
ity (see ('omu.i), but used as equiv. to the earlier 
M.II>VM , of or pertaining to comedy, < nufii^ia, 
comedy: see comedy.] I. a. 1. Pertaining or 
relating to or of the nature of comedy, as dis- 
tinct from tragedy. See comedy and drama. 
I'liy tragic muie give* nullrs, thy rinnir. Bleep. Dryden. 
2. Raising mirth; fitted to excite merriment. 
[Now more commonly comical. J 
Mirthful comic shows. Shiik., 3 Hen VI., v. 7. 
A c*nnick snlijt-ct loves an humble verse. Aoteommou. 
Comic opera, a light. harmonious opera, ns.mlly con- 
_ of detached niovemenUwlth more or lew dialogue. 
See opera.- Comic song, a Unlit, humoroiu, or grotoque 
Honjr or hallatl. naiially oewriptive. 
II. n. A comic actor or singer; a writer of 
comedies ; a comical person. 
As the comic saith, his mlud was In the kit. hm. 
i'rquhart, tr. of Rabelais. 
My chief business here this evening was to speak to my 
friends 111 behalf of honest Cave I'nderhlll, who has been 
a comic for three generations. Toiler, No. 22. 
comical (kom'i-kal), it. [< comic + -a/.] 1. 
Of or pertaining to comedy. [Now more com- 
monly comic.'] 
They deny It to lie tragical because Its catastrophe Is a 
wed. ling, which hath ever been accounted eoniteat. '.'."/. 
Hence 2. Exciting mirth ; diverting; sport- 
ive; droll; funny: said of persons and things: 
as, a comical fellow; a comical story; a comical 
predicament. 
I am well able to l>e as merry, though not so comical as 
he. linlilmiilli. Reverie at Uoar'a-IIead Tavern. 
St. [See etym. of comic.] 
dissipation ; licentious. 
Given to revelry or 
And a sorwe of hym-self and a solace to the sowle. comfrey (kum'fri), n. [Also written comfry 
... xiv -u. ftnd cum j- < jjj; fum-ftrie CO mfory, coicmfory, 
Wewonu'.' 1 i " lthl "" 1 el ' ' wlth ' ' -zSTis: confer*, cwnfery, comfrey, consolida (AS. gal- 
A co,,,fort a ble doctrine. 
Shak.,1. N., i. 5. 
**>,< OF. cm/frfe, later confire (ML. reflex 
When they had sacrificed their divine Socrates to the 
sottish fury of their lewd and comical multitude, they . . . 
regretted their hasty murder. 
Penn, Liberty of Conscience, Pref. 
4. Strange; extraordinary. [Provincial. ] = Syn. 
Funny, Droll, etc. See ludicrous. 
comicality (kom-i-kal'i-ti), n. [< comical + 
-ity.] 1. The quality of being comical; ca- 
pacity for raising mirth ; ludicrousness. 
Ladislaw's sense of the ludicrous . . . had no mixture 
of sneering and self-exaltation : ... It was the pure en- 
joyment of comicality. Oforgt i'liot, Middleniarch, I. 88. 
2. That which is comical or ludicrous; a com- 
ical act or event. 
comically (kom'i-kal-i), arfr. In a comical 
manner, (a) In a manner bentttng comedy. 
Some satirically, some comically, some In a mixt tone. 
Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 410. 
(6) In a manner to raise mirth ; laughably ; ludicrously. 
comicalness (kom'i-kal-nes), n. Comicality; 
drollery. 
comicart, [Prop, "comicker (= G. Dan. komi- 
ker) ; < comic + -ari = -!.] A writer of com- 
edies. Skelton. 
comicry (kom'ik-ri), n. K comic + -ry. Cf. 
mimicry.] Comicality. [Hare.] 
Cheerful cmniery. II. Gilci. 
coming (kum'ing), n. [Early mod. E. also com- 
ming, cumming; < ME. coming, comynge. earning ; 
verbal n. of come : see come, .] 1. The act of 
one who or that which comes, in any sense of 
the verb. Specifically 2. Arrival. 
Forth! bad we In his cuming 
Welctim him als worthl king. 
Mttr. Hmnilitt, p. 12. 
3. [Pron. dial, ko'ming. Cf. come, r., I., 5, cone, 
n., 2, 3.] The act of sprouting. 4. pi. In malt- 
ing, barley-shoots after the barley has been 
kiln-dried. 
comingt (kum ' ing), p. a. [Ppr. of come, r.] 
Forward; ready to come; yielding; pliable. 
What humour Is she of? Is she com 1113 and open, free? 
B. Jontm, Eplccene, v. 1. 
