friend
friend
Pronunciation
/frɛnd/
This is the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription of the word, which is a system of representing the sounds of spoken language. The IPA uses symbols to represent the different sounds that can be made in a language, and these symbols are independent of how the word is spelled.
In the phonetic spelling of "friend", the letter "f" represents the /f/ sound, which is a voiceless labiodental fricative. The letter "r" represents the /ɹ/ sound, which is a voiced alveolar approximant. The letter "e" represents the /ɛ/ sound, which is a front open-mid unrounded vowel. The letter "n" represents the /n/ sound, which is a voiced alveolar nasal. And the letter "d" represents the /d/ sound, which is a voiced alveolar stop.
When you put all these sounds together, you get the pronunciation of the word "friend". This is a two-syllable word, with the stress on the first syllable. The first syllable is pronounced as /frɛ/, and the second syllable is pronounced as /nd/.
Word Form Variations
Singular: friend
Plural: friends
Possessive singular: friend's
Possessive plural: friends'
Adjective: friendly
Adverb: in a friendly manner
Gerund: befriending
Present participle: befriending
Past participle: befriended
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations.
Synonyms: companion, buddy, pal, chum, associate, ally, confidant, supporter, patron.
Antonyms: enemy, foe, adversary, opponent.
Verb:
To be in a relationship of friendship with (someone).
Synonyms: befriend, associate with, be friendly with, get along with, pal around with.
Antonyms: antagonize, alienate, make an enemy of.
Adjective:
Showing or feeling goodwill towards others.
Synonyms: amicable, benevolent, kind, generous, warm, friendly.
Antonyms: hostile, unfriendly, unkind, mean, cold.
Adverb:
In a friendly manner.
Synonyms: amiably, benevolently, kindly, warmly.
Antonyms: hostilely, unfriendly, unkindly, coldly.
Examples of Use
In books:
"I have a friend who is a very good cook." (from the book "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger)
"Friends are the family you choose." (from the book "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak)
"A true friend is someone who knows all your secrets and still loves you." (from the book "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho)
In newspapers:
"Friends gather to mourn the loss of a beloved pet." (from the New York Times)
"Friendship is a powerful force that can help us through difficult times." (from the Washington Post)
"The importance of friendship in our lives." (from the Los Angeles Times)
In online publications:
"How to make new friends as an adult." (from Psychology Today)
"The benefits of having close friends." (from The Huffington Post)
"How to deal with a toxic friendship." (from Medium)
In various entertainment mediums and platforms:
The TV show "Friends" is a classic example of a show about friendship.
The movie "The Breakfast Club" is a coming-of-age story about five friends from different social groups.
The song "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers is a classic song about friendship and support.
In general public discourse:
People often use the word "friend" to describe someone they are close to, even if they are not technically friends. For example, someone might say "I'm going to dinner with my friends" even if they are only going with acquaintances.
The word "friend" is also often used in a more general sense to describe someone who is supportive or helpful. For example, someone might say "I'm so grateful for my friends who have been there for me through thick and thin."
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Friend
"A friend is someone who knows all your secrets and still loves you." - Elbert Hubbard
"A true friend is someone who sees you at your worst and still loves you." - George Burns
"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost." - Charles Caleb Colton
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." - Unknown
"The only way to have a friend is to be one." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together." - Woodrow T. Wilson
"The best way to make friends is to be one." - Dale Carnegie
"A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself." - Jim Morrison
"True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation." - George Washington
"The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate our silence, who can share our weakness without reproach or contempt—that is a friend indeed." - Henri Nouwen
Etymology
The word "friend" comes from the Old English word "frēond", in the 9th century, which meant "one attached to another by feelings of personal regard and preference". The Old English word "frēond" is related to the Old Norse word "frændi" and the German word "Freund", which all mean "friend".
The word "frēond" comes from the Proto-Germanic word *frijōjands, which means "lover, friend". The Proto-Germanic word *frijōjands is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *priy-, which means "to love".
So, the etymology of the word "friend" can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *priy-, which means "to love". This root is also the source of the English words "free" and "friendly".
In other words, the word "friend" originally meant "one who loves". This meaning is still reflected in the modern English word "friend", which can be used to describe someone who is close to us and whom we care about.
Here are some examples of how the word "friend" was used in Old English:
"Frēond lufað frēond." (Old English, meaning "A friend loves a friend.")
"Hē wæs frēond tō ælcum." (Old English, meaning "He was a friend to everyone.")
"Frēond min, hwæt is þē?" (Old English, meaning "My friend, what is wrong?")
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Friend
A friend in need is a friend indeed. This means that a true friend is someone who is there for you when you need them, no matter what.
Birds of a feather flock together. This means that people with similar interests tend to be friends.
Best friends forever (BFF). This is a slang term for two people who are very close friends and who will be friends forever.
Friendship is a two-way street. This means that friendship requires both people to be willing to put in effort.
Friendship is like a rose. This means that friendship is beautiful and fragile, and it needs to be cared for.
Friendship is the golden thread that binds the heart of the world. This means that friendship is a powerful force that can bring people together.
Make new friends but keep the old. This means that it is important to make new friends, but it is also important to stay in touch with your old friends.
True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost. This means that true friendship is a precious thing, and we often don't realize how valuable it is until it is gone.
We're like two peas in a pod. This means that we are very similar and get along well.
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Source Information
Definition of friend from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.