*mf*

a. Beamy; radiant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full to the brim; completely full; ready to overflow. “Her brimful eyes.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Chamfron. ] The surface formed by cutting away the arris, or angle, formed by two faces of a piece of timber, stone, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Chamfered ; p. pr. & vb. n. Chamfering. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Carp.) To cut a furrow in, as in a column; to groove; to channel; to flute. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a chamfer on. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Chamfron. ] 1. (Carp.) A small gutter; a furrow; a groove. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A chamfer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. chanfrein. ] (Anc. Armor) The frontlet, or head armor, of a horse. [ Written also champfrain and chamfrain. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abounding with charms. “His charmful lyre.” Cowley. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. circumferre; circum- + ferre to bear. See 1st Bear. ] To bear or carry round. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To include in a circular space; to bound. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. circumferentia. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The line that goes round or encompasses a circular figure; a periphery. Millon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A circle; anything circular. [ 1913 Webster ]

His ponderous shield . . .
Behind him cast. The broad circumference
Hung on his shoulders like the moon. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The external surface of a sphere, or of any orbicular body. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. circumferentialis. ] Pertaining to the circumference; encompassing; encircling; circuitous. Parkhurst. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to surround or encircle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Circumfer. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A surveying instrument, for taking horizontal angles and bearings; a surveyor's compass. It consists of a compass whose needle plays over a circle graduated to 360°, and of a horizontal brass bar at the ends of which are standards with narrow slits for sighting, supported on a tripod by a ball and socket joint. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A graduated wheel for measuring tires; a tire circle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. circumflans, p. pr. of circumflare. ] Blowing around. [ Obs. ] Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Circumflected; p. pr. & vb. n. Circumflecting. ] [ L. circumflectere. See Circumflex. ] 1. To bend around. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To mark with the circumflex accent, as a vowel. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Circumflexion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. circumflexus a bending round, fr. circumflectere, circumflexum, to bend or turn about; circum + flectere to bend. See Flexible. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A wave of the voice embracing both a rise and fall or a fall and a rise on the same a syllable. Walker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A character, or accent, denoting in Greek a rise and of the voice on the same long syllable, marked thus [ ~ or &unr_; ]; and in Latin and some other languages, denoting a long and contracted syllable, marked [ &unr_; or ^ ]. See Accent, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Circumflexed p. pr. & vb. n. Circumflexing ] To mark or pronounce with a circumflex. Walker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. L. circumflexus, p. p. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Moving or turning round; circuitous. [ R. ] Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) Curved circularly; -- applied to several arteries of the hip and thigh, to arteries, veins, and a nerve of the shoulder, and to other parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of bending, or causing to assume a curved form. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A winding about; a turning; a circuity; a fold. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A flowing round on all sides; an inclosing with a fluid. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. circumfluere, p. pr. of circumfluere; circum + fluere to flow; also L. circumfluus. ] Flowing round; surrounding in the manner of a fluid. “The deep, circumfluent waves.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. circumforaneus found in markets; circum + forum a market place. ] Going about or abroad; walking or wandering from house to house. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. circum- + fulgent. ] Shining around or about. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. circumfusus, p. p. of circumfundere to pour around; circum + fundere to pour. ] To pour round; to spread round. [ 1913 Webster ]

His army circumfused on either wing. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. circum- + L. fusilis fusil, a. ] Capable of being poured or spread round. “Circumfusile gold.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. circumfusio. ] The act of pouring or spreading round; the state of being spread round. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Clamjamphrie. [ Scot. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. confit, prop. a p. p., fr. confire to preserve, pickle, fr. L. conficere to prepare; con- + facere to make. See Fact, and cf. Confect. ] A dry sweetmeat; any kind of fruit, root, or seed preserved with sugar and dried; a confection. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To preserve dry with sugar. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fruit which does so quickly waste, . . .
Thou comfitest in sweets to make it last. Cowley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. confiture; cf. LL. confecturae sweetmeats, confectura a preparing. See Comfit, and cf. Confiture. ] See Comfit, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Comforted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comforting. ] [ F. conforter, fr. L. confortare to strengthen much; con- + fortis strong. See Fort. ] 1. To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

God's own testimony . . . doth not a little comfort and confirm the same. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To assist or help; to aid. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I . . . can not help the noble chevalier:
God comfort him in this necessity! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to console; to cheer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

That we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction. 2 Cor. i. 4 (Rev. Ver.). [ 1913 Webster ]

A perfect woman, nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort, and command. Wordsworth.

Syn. -- 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.” Acts xx. 12. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. confort, fr. conforter. ] 1. Assistance; relief; support. [ Obs. except in the phrase “aid and comfort.” See 5 below. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Encouragement; solace; consolation in trouble; also, that which affords consolation. [ 1913 Webster ]

In comfort of her mother's fears. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cheer thy spirit with this comfort. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort availed not. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A state of quiet enjoyment; freedom from pain, want, or anxiety; also, whatever contributes to such a condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

I had much joy and comfort in thy love. Phil. 7 (Rev. Ver.). [ 1913 Webster ]

He had the means of living in comfort. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) Unlawful support, countenance, or encouragement; as, to give aid and comfort to the enemy.

Syn. -- Comfort, Consolation. Comfort has two meanings: 1. Strength and relief received under affliction; 2. Positive enjoyment, of a quiet, permanent nature, together with the sources thereof; as, the comfort of love; surrounded with comforts; but it is with the former only that the word consolation is brought into comparison. As thus compared, consolation points to some specific source of relief for the afflicted mind; as, the consolations of religion. Comfort supposes the relief to be afforded by imparting positive enjoyment, as well as a diminution of pain. “Consolation, or comfort, signifies some alleviation to that pain to which it is not in our power to afford the proper and adequate remedy; they imply rather an augmentation of the power of bearing, than a diminution of the burden.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. confortable. ] 1. Strong; vigorous; valiant. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. For my sake be comfortable; hold death a while at the arm's end. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Serviceable; helpful. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Be comfortable to my mother, your mistress, and make much of her. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Affording or imparting comfort or consolation; able to comfort; cheering; as, a comfortable hope. “Kind words and comfortable.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

A comfortable provision made for their subsistence. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. In a condition of comfort; having comforts; not suffering or anxious; hence, contented; cheerful; as, to lead a comfortable life. [ 1913 Webster ]

My lord leans wondrously to discontent;
His comfortable temper has forsook him:
He is much out of health. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Free, or comparatively free, from pain or distress; -- used of a sick person. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A stuffed or quilted coverlet for a bed; a comforter; a comfort. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State of being comfortable. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a comfortable or comforting manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Is. xl. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who administers comfort or consolation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let no comforter delight mine ear
But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Script.) The Holy Spirit, -- referring to his office of comforting believers. [ 1913 Webster ]

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. John xiv. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A knit woolen tippet, long and narrow. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The American schoolboy takes off his comforter and unbuttons his jacket before going in for a snowball fight. Pop. Sci. Monthly. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Job's comforter, a boil. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. providing freedom from worry.
Syn. -- cheering, satisfying. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. affording comfort or solace.
Syn. -- consolatory, consoling. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Without comfort or comforts; in want or distress; cheerless. [ 1913 Webster ]

Comfortless through tyranny or might. Spenser.

Syn. -- Forlorn; desolate; cheerless; inconsolable; disconsolate; wretched; miserable.

-- Com"fort*less*ly, adv. -- Com"fort*less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

When all is coldly, comfortlessly costly. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Act or process of administering comfort. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The gentle comfortment and entertainment of the said embassador. Hakluyt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who comforts. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be your comfortress, and to preserve you. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. from F. conferve, L. conferva, fr. confervere to boil together, in medical language, to heal, grow together. So called on account of its healing power, for which reason it was also called consolida. ] (Bot.) A rough, hairy, perennial plant of several species, of the genus Symphytum. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A decoction of the mucilaginous root of the “common comfrey” (Symphytum officinale) is used in cough mixtures, etc.; and the gigantic “prickly comfrey” (Symphytum asperrimum) is somewhat cultivated as a forage plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. comfortable. [ informal ]. uncomfortable [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Bot.) See Comfrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. decem ten + root of findere to cleave. ] (Bot.) Cleft into ten parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Discomfited; p. pr. & vb. n. Discomfiting. ] [ OF. desconfit, p. p. of desconfire, F. déconfire; fr. L. dis- + conficere to make ready, prepare, bring about. See Comfit, Fact. ] 1. To scatter in fight; to put to rout; to defeat. [ 1913 Webster ]

And his proud foes discomfit in victorious field. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To break up and frustrate the plans of; to balk&unr_; to throw into perplexity and dejection; to disconcert. [ 1913 Webster ]

Well, go with me and be not so discomfited. Shak.

Syn. -- To defeat; overthrow; overpower; vanquish; conquer; baffle; frustrate; confound; discourage. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Discomfited; overthrown. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]