Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COM'FORT, v.t. [Low L. conforto; Fr. conforter; Arm. conforti, or conforta; It. confortare; Sp. and Port. confortar; Ir. comh-fhurtach, comfort, and furtachd, id.; furtaighim, to relieve or help; from the L. con and fortis, strong.]

1. To strengthen; to invigorate; to cheer or enliven. Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men. – Bacon. Comfort ye your hearts. – Gen. xviii.
2. To strengthen the mind when depressed or enfeebled; to console; to give new vigor to the spirits; to cheer, or relieve from depression, or trouble. His friends came to mourn with him and to comfort him. – Job ii.
3. In law, to relieve, assist or encourage, as the accessory to a crime after the fact. – Blackstone.