What is "comfort"

Comfort \Com"fort\, 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.

   God's own testimony . . . doth not a little comfort and confirm the same.
   --Hooker.

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

   I . . . can not help the noble chevalier: God comfort him in this necessity!
   --Shak.

3. To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to console; to cheer.

   Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men.
   --Bacon.

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

   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.

   Usage: 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.

Comfort \Com"fort\, n. [OF. confort, fr. conforter.]

1. Assistance; relief; support. [Obs. except in the phrase ``aid and comfort.'' See 5 below.]
   --Shak.

2. Encouragement; solace; consolation in trouble; also, that which affords consolation.

   In comfort of her mother's fears.
   --Shak.

   Cheer thy spirit with this comfort.
   --Shak.

   Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort availed not.
   --Longfellow.

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

   I had much joy and comfort in thy love.
   --Phil. 7 (Rev. Ver.).

   He had the means of living in comfort.
   --Macaulay.

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

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

late 13c., conforten "to cheer up, console," from Old French conforter "to comfort, to solace; to help, strengthen," from Late Latin confortare "to strengthen much" (used in Vulgate), from Latin com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + fortis "strong" (see fort). Change of -n- to -m- began in English 14c. Related: Comforted; comforting.

c.1200, "feeling of relief" (as still in to take comfort in something); also "source of alleviation or relief;" from Old French confort (see comfort (v.)). Replaced Old English frofor. Comforts (as opposed to necessities and luxuries) is from 1650s.

n. 1 contentment, ease. 2 Something that offers comfort. 3 A consolation; something relieving suffering or worry. 4 A cause of relief or satisfaction. vb. 1 (context transitive English) To relieve the distress or suffering of; to provide comfort to. 2 (context transitive English) To make comfortable. (rfex) 3 (context obsolete English) To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate. 4 (context obsolete English) To assist or help; to aid.

1. v. give moral or emotional strength to [syn: soothe, console, solace]

2. lessen pain or discomfort; alleviate; "ease the pain in your legs" [syn: ease]

1. n. a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain; "he is a man who enjoys his comfort"; "she longed for the comfortableness of her armchair" [syn: comfortableness] [ant: discomfort]

2. a feeling of freedom from worry or disappointment

3. the act of consoling; giving relief in affliction; "his presence was a consolation to her" [syn: consolation, solace]

4. a freedom from financial difficulty that promotes a comfortable state; "a life of luxury and ease"; "he had all the material comforts of this world" [syn: ease]

Comfort is the debut album by the American alternative rock band Failure.

Comfort is the physical and psychological sense of ease. As an action the comfort of someone, or comforting of someone can be Consolation.

Comfort may also refer to:

• Comfort (Failure album)
• Comfort (Maya Jane Coles album)
• "Comfort", a song by Deb Talan
• "Comfort", a song by Basement from their 2012 album Colourmeinkindness
• Comfort (fabric softener)
• Comfort food
• Comfort noise, artificial background noise used in radio and wireless communications to fill the silent time in a transmission
• Comfort object, an object used to provide psychological comfort
• Comfort women, a euphemism for women who were forced to work as sex slaves in Japanese-occupied countries during World War II
• Comfort zone, the term used to denote a type of mental conditioning resulting in artificially created mental boundaries, within which an individual derives a sense of security
• Southern Comfort, an alcoholic drink made with peaches
• Thermal comfort, a field of specialization in building indoor environment
• Toyota Comfort, a taxicab popular in Japan and Hong Kong
• Comfort, a taxi company under ComfortDelGro

Comfort is the brand name of a Unilever fabric softener sold in the UK and around the world. The range includes Comfort Pure (for delicate skin) and Comfort Crème (a premium brand). Scents include Passion Flower and Ylang Ylang, Lily and Riceflower, Wild Pear and Ginkgo and the Original Comfort Blue.

Comfort (or being comfortable) is a sense of physical or psychological ease, often characterized as a lack of hardship. Persons who are lacking in comfort are uncomfortable, or experiencing discomfort. A degree of psychological comfort can be achieved by recreating experiences that are associated with pleasant memories, such as engaging in familiar activities, maintaining the presence of familiar objects, and consumption of comfort foods. Comfort is a particular concern in health care, as providing comfort to the sick and injured is one goal of healthcare, and can facilitate recovery. Persons who are surrounded with things that provide psychological comfort may be described as being "in their comfort zone". Because of the personal nature of positive associations, psychological comfort is highly subjective.

The use of "comfort" as a verb generally implies that the subject is in a state of pain, suffering or affliction, and requires alleviation from that state. Where the term is used to describe the support given to someone who has experienced a tragedy, the word is synonymous with consolation or solace. However, comfort is used much more broadly, as one can provide physical comfort to someone who is not in a position to be uncomfortable. For example, a person might sit in a chair without discomfort, but still find the addition of a pillow to the chair to increase their feeling of comfort. Like certain other terms describing positive feelings or abstractions (hope, charity, chastity), comfort may also be used as a personal name.

Comfort is the debut full-length studio album by English DJ Maya Jane Coles. It was released in July 2013 under I/Am/Me Records.

Comfort is the debut studio album by British band Splashh, first released on 4 June 2013 in the US on Kanine Records, then on 2 September 2013 through Luv Luv Luv Records in the UK. It was released as a digital download, Digipak CD and on transparent blue vinyl. A limited edition version was released on transparent blue vinyl with a bonus 10-inch EP, in which some copies were signed.

The first single to be released from the album was "Need It", released in July 2012. The second single was "Vacation" released in November 2012, which was followed by "All I Wanna Do" in May 2013, and then "Feels Like You" in July 2013.

Comfort was a mail order magazine published in Augusta, Maine from 1888 to 1942. Published by Gannet & Morris and edited initially by William H. Gannet, Comfort was touted as "the key to happiness and success in over a million and quarter homes."

In 1888, William H. Gannet created Comfort primarily as a means to advertise his patent medicine, Giant Oxien, a variant of The Moxie Nerve Food. Comforts circulation increased from 13,000, in 1888, to 1.3 million, in 1894, which made Comfort the first publication in America to reach a circulation of 1 million. In order to handle this increase in circulation, Gannet purchased a new rotary color convertible web-fed press, which was one of the first of its kind in the country.

The increase in Comforts circulation was primarily due to its use of premiums to generate subscriptions. Premiums, essentially rewards like sewing machines or clothing, were given to people who submitted "clubs" or lists of new subscribers. As Frank Luther Mott notes in his book, A History of American Magazines, the use of the "'club' device made the solicitor virtually a local subscription agent for the periodical." Most of the time, publishers of mail-order magazines did not depend on the collection of subscription fees and instead generated income by selling their subscription lists to advertisers.

The practice of not collecting subscriptions fees went against the United States Post Office Department's criteria that required publications to maintain "a legitimate list of subscribers" in order to take advantage of the low second-class mailing rate of one-cent per pound. In 1907, as a way to curb further abuse of the second-class postal rate, the US Post Office mandated that all subscription fees must be paid in advance. Many mail-order magazines could not meet this requirement and folded. The publishers of Comfort, who were more firm about collecting payment than other mail-order magazine publishers, lowered Comforts price to 15 cents a year in order to meet with the new regulations.

To prevent mail-order magazines from becoming little more than advertisement catalogs, the US Post Office also required mail-order magazines provide readers with "information of a public character, or devoted to literature, the sciences, arts, or some special industry." This regulation may explain why Comfort claimed on its front page to be "devoted to art, literature, science, and the home circle." In addition to the columns of advertisements, Comfort provided readers with various articles geared to meet the needs and interests of every member of the rural, American family. With articles like "In & Around the Home," "Comfort Sisters' Recipes," and "The Pretty Girls' Club," much of Comfort was dominated by content for women, which offered advice and information on cooking, sewing, health, and beauty. Comfort also printed articles aimed at men, although not as many, such as "The Modern Farmer" and "Automobile and Gas Engine Helps." For children, Comfort occasionally published puzzles, activities, and comics.

Another prominent feature of Comfort was its short and serialized fiction. When Comfort was first published, much of the fiction was written by William H. Gannet as a means to further plug Giant Oxien and other products displayed in the magazine's advertisements. From roughly September 1892 to April 1902, Comfort offered prizes to readers who submitted works of fiction for publication. In later years, Comfort went on to publish fiction written by more legitimate and well known authors such as Augusta Jane Evans, Mrs. Georgie Sheldon, Horatio Alger Jr., Charles Felton Pidgin, and L. M. Montgomery. The fiction published in Comfort was usually highly moral and typically fell into three genres: Adventure, Mystery, or Sentimental Romance. Additionally, Comfort printed stories for children. The Cubby Bear stories, written by Lena B. Ellingwood and illustrated by Harrison Cady, were the most regular children's fiction published in Comfort.

In 1940, Comfort was sold to the Needlecraft Publishing Corporation. Needlecraft Publishing continued to publish Comfort for two years until it was combined with Needlecraft magazine, which ceased to be published soon after.