comfort: [13] Comfort did not always have its present ‘soft’ connotations of physical ease, contentment, and well-being. Etymologically it means ‘make someone stronger’, and its original English sense was ‘encourage, support’ (this survives in such contexts as ‘give aid and comfort to the enemy’). It comes via Old French conforter from late Latin confortāre ‘strengthen greatly’, a compound verb formed from the prefix com- ‘with’ used as an intensive and the adjective fortis ‘strong’ (source of English force, fort, and effort).
The antonym discomfort is not etymologically related to discomfit, a word with which it is often confused. => effort, force, fort
comfort (v.)
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.
comfort (n.)
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.
例文
1. He began to comfort me with such unaccustomed gentleness.
彼はその珍しい優しさで私を慰め始めた。
2.This new design will offer undreamed-of levels of comfort ，safety and speed.
このような新しい設計は、予想外の快適さ、安全性、迅速さをもたらします。
3.He found comfort in Eva 's blind faith in him.
エヴァの盲目的な信頼に安心した。
4.Mr Dinkins visited the bereaved family to offer comfort .
ディンキンスさんは死者の家に弔問に行った。
5.The jumperstrikes the perfect balance between comfort and smartness.