friendlyadj.n.
/ˈfrɛn(d)li/, U.S. /ˈfrɛn(d)li/ A. adj.
1.
a. Characteristic of or befitting a friend or friends; that expresses or is indicative of friendship or a kind and helpful attitude.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adjective] > characteristic of friends
friendlyeOE
eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iii. xvi. 224 Ðas word..Osweo se cyning Sigeberhte þam cyninge mid freondlicre & mid broðorlicre geþeahte [L. amicali et quasi fraterno] oft & gelome tospræc.
OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) i. Introd. 3 Ða com me to min sunu Petrus & min se leofesta diacon, se wæs gebunden & getogen to me heowcuþlice mid freondlicre lufan [L. in amicitiis] fram þære frymðe his geogoðhades.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 2423 (MED) Whan thou hast taken..frendly chiere or tokne or lettre.
1417 in T. Rymer Fœdera (1709) IX. 430 (MED) Thanketh hym of the Frendely Letter that he sent.
c1430 (c1395) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) Prol. l. 205 Hyde Ionathas al thyn frendely [c1450 Fairf. frendly] manere.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. ccxli. 312 The grayhounde..made to hym the same frendly countinaunce and chere as he was wonte to do to the kyng.
?1577 J. Northbrooke Spiritus est Vicarius Christi: Treat. Dicing To Rdr. sig. A.iijv I humblie obtest your friendlie countenance.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. vi. 46 Your Mother came to Cicelie, and did finde Her welcome Friendly . View more context for this quotation
1683 in Pennsylvania Arch. (1852) I. 72 And first, I congratulate wth a friendly Joy.
1709 R. Steele & J. Swift Tatler No. 67 To tell People of their Faults in a friendly and private Manner.
1785 J. C. Lettsom Let. 8 Apr. in T. J. Pettigrew Life (1817) II. 425 I was sorry to perceive by your last friendly letter that you have failed in procuring a loan for my friend Mr. W.
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus ii. v, in Fraser's Mag. Mar. 304/2 Gaily in light, graceful abandonment, the friendly talk played round that circle.
1868 M. E. Braddon Run to Earth I. i. 9 Jernam acknowledged their courtesy with a friendly nod.
a1924 J. Conrad Suspense (1925) i. i. 11 ‘We must part.’ ‘I suppose we must..,’ agreed Cosmo in a friendly voice.
1950 ‘W. Cooper’ Scenes Provinc. Life ii. i. 86 I suppressed the desire to say: ‘Then why are you showing it me?’ Bolshaw was making a friendly gesture.
1982 U. Bentley Nat. Order (1983) 107 The conversation had started off as a friendly chat.
2005 C. Cleave Incendiary 11 I think they might of popped out to the pub like I did. Just to see a few friendly faces.
b. Having the qualities or attitude of a friend; behaving, or disposed to behave, in a manner befitting a friend or showing friendship; kind and pleasant.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adjective] > warm or friendly in manner
friendlyc1390
heartlyc1390
cordial1577
goodwilly1706
c1390 in F. J. Furnivall Minor Poems Vernon MS (1901) ii. 625 (MED) What hastou don for me To beon my frendly feere?
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 4833 A freissh, a fre, a frendly man.
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) ii. l. 204 He is þe frendlyest man Of gret estat þat euere I saw my lyue.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 8v The enuyous man is frendely to him that is present.
1537 M. Coverdale tr. A. Osiander How Christen Man flye Horrible Plage sig. B. iii Yf he be gentle and frendly, then ymagen they some foolyshe thynge vpon hym.
1583 Ld. Burghley Let. in T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. (1655) ix. 159 Your Graces as friendly as any, Will. Burley.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 304 No man..vnto his friends more friendly, or vnto his enemies more crosse and contrarie.
a1697 J. Aubrey Brief Lives: W. Hollar (1813) II. 402 He was a very friendly good-natured man as could be, but shiftlesse as to the world, and dyed not rich.
1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. iv. 75 A good Man is friendly to his Fellow-creatures, and a Lover of Mankind.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. vi. 50 I knew him to be friendly as far as he was able.
1822 T. Mitchell tr. Aristophanes Wasps in tr. Aristophanes Comedies II. 184 With Cleon he's friendly and mately.
1871 G. Meredith Harry Richmond II. xxi. 311 No one could be friendlier.
1921 H. C. Witwer Rubyiat of Freshman 7 One of them was..the interscholastic sprint champion, and, pater, you would hardly believe how friendly and democratic he was with everyone.
1971 Bahamas 23 iii. 20 Bahamian Out Islanders are among the world's friendliest people.
1988 G. Patterson Burning your Own (1993) v. 52 Everyone's dead friendly to me now.
2003 Diva Aug. 36/2 Everyone was very friendly.
c. Of an event, place, etc.: characterized by friendliness; warm, inviting, welcoming.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > [adjective] > welcoming
meeting1548
friendly1553
welcoming1656
1553 J. Bale Vocacyon f. 19v The lorde chauncellour made to vs..a most frendly diner.
1647 H. More Oracle 79 In friendly feasts, and life-outfetching kisse.
1687 J. Dryden Hind & Panther iii. 75 No sharp debates disturb'd the friendly meal.
1755 W. Dodd Hymn of Callimachus vi. 159 From social banquets or the friendly feast His parents..detain'd their son.
1847 W. D. Tales of Adventure ii. 48 In this friendly place, Quirino and his men were entertained till May 14th.
1887 H. F. Powell tr. J. Stinde Frau Wilhelmine 191 How delightful it would have been quite alone with my Carl, just two or three friendly rooms..somewhere on the border of a forest.
1935 ‘A. Bridge’ Illyrian Spring ii. 18 A motor launch arrived from Venice, and the sunny isolation of this quiet friendly place was broken by an influx of tourists.
1962 Rotarian Apr. 32/2 Nearby is the Farmer's Market, a sprawling..complex of food specialty shops and friendly restaurants.
1989 A. Aird 1990 Good Pub Guide 641/1 Friendly pub with enormous chimney and log fire.
2005 New Yorker 23 May 22/2 A friendly neighborhood joint, well-suited to a Tribeca now in its prosperous baby-stroller phase.
2.
a. Not characterized by hostility or conflict; amicable. Later also of competition, rivalry, etc.: not pursued with hostility or serious intent; not divisive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adjective] > not hostile or at variance
friendlyOE
threatless1606
navigable1611
OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) ii. vii. 116 Ac in þam freondlican geflite [L. amica contentione] þære wrixiendlican eadmodnesse þær eode to genoh rihtwis dema.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. lxiiiv A frendly correctyon profiteth more, than a troubolus correction.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxix. 216 He appointed the pacificque, and friendly Embassages.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. 474 They might set forward..vpon these Christian and friendly termes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 482 Why answer not the double Maiesties, This friendly treatie of our threatned Towne. View more context for this quotation
1675 V. Alsop Anti-Sozzo iii. 161 But all the stick lyes there, and we must enter a Friendly Debate with him upon the issue.
1796 Ann. Reg., Hist. 115 Spain was..on friendly terms with France.
1840 R. H. Barham Cynotaph in Ingoldsby Legends 1st Ser. 107 All Preux Chevaliers, in friendly rivalry Who should best bring back the glory of Chi-valry.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 399 The wits and the Puritans had never been on friendly terms.
1881 P. Fitzgerald Life George IV I. 99 Fox..felt that he was bound, without being on friendly terms, to carry through the Prince's business.
1904 Collier's 7 May 17/3 A spirit of friendly rivalry has existed between those expert reinsmen.
1951 W. H. Auden Nones (1952) 62 Thou shalt not be on friendly terms With guys in advertising firms.
1978 J. A. Maxwell America's Fascinating Indian Heritage x. 364/1 (caption) The spirit of friendly competition characterizes these Eskimo women as they play nugluktaq.
2002 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 6 Oct. iv. 14/3 A Russian attack on Georgia would be a fiasco for their friendly relations with Mr. Putin.
b. Of a person, nation, etc.: not hostile, antagonistic, or in conflict; on good, amicable, or affectionate terms.
ΚΠ
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xiii. x. l. 128 Baith pepille of Troy & folk Italian,..Becummyn ar freyndly.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 695 The Inhabitants whereof..have shewed themselves friendly to the Portugals.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) v. ii. 4 Nothing but himselfe, which lookes like man, Is friendly with him. View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Narborough Jrnl. in Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) i. 135 The People were friendly..but..very theevish.
1731 Gentleman's Mag. Feb. 53 An island has no business with the affairs of the continent, only as a friendly neighbour.
1798 Ld. Nelson 22 July in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) III. 47 The King's flag is insulted at every Friendly Port we look at.
1860 Ann. Reg. 21 Sowing suspicion and distrust, calculated to bring about a total rupture with a neighbouring and friendly country.
1896 Argosy Feb. 449/1 The question in dispute is altogether too insignificant to raise even a specter of war between two great friendly nations.
1933 G. C. Schwesinger et al. Heredity & Environment v. 432 The neo-Freudian psychiatrists, friendly to Freudian theories, with variations.
1981 I. McEwan Comfort of Strangers (1983) iii. 39 Our families must become friendly for reason of diplomacy and business.
2004 U.S. News & World Rep. 10 May 36/1 An additional 2,000 troops from friendly countries.
c. Law. Of an action: brought merely to clarify the law (whether on a point of general importance or on a point that concerns only the parties), rather than to settle a dispute between the parties. Also occasionally of a litigant: that pursues an action of this type.In early use with reference to proceedings designed to have debtors moved from one place of imprisonment to another by agreement.
ΚΠ
1761 Gentleman's Mag. Oct. 441/1 Debtors can become prisoners at friendly suits at any time.
1772 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 594/1 The parishes, never being properly divided, occasioned this friendly suit between the two incumbents, to determine their respective rights.
1788 E. Farley Imprisonment for Debt 121 A debtor in the King's Bench prison was advised by his attorney to move himself by a habeas corpus, on a friendly action, to the Fleet prison.
1842 Amer. Jurist & Law Mag. Oct. 72 In a friendly suit,..the chancellor declared, in November 1816, that he would give a judgment in a few days.
1869 Parl. Deb. N.Z. VI. 883/2 A friendly action had been instituted for the purpose of trying the point.
1917 Southwestern Reporter 189 931/2 The friendly suit was instituted because it was deemed a valid way to carry out their agreement.
1935 R. A. Knox Barchester Pilgrimage vi. 226 The whole question was decided by a friendly action at law.
1964 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 1 214 The action has been described to us as a friendly action and we have been informed that the defendants are just as anxious as the plaintiffs to obtain a decision.
1999 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. (Nexis) 30 Sept. 1a The Supreme Court has held that ‘friendly’ actions will be viewed with caution and will require the friendly petitioner to pursue the case with greater than average diligence and in the utmost good faith.
d. Sport and Games. Of a game or match: played for enjoyment, practice, or love of the game rather than in a spirit of serious competition; not forming part of a cup, league, or other official tournament.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [adjective] > types of
maiden1598
well-run1601
unequal1654
well contested1722
returned1758
friendly1780
close-run1813
foursome1814
lightweight1823
tight1828
side1829
one-sided1839
scratch1851
international1859
all-comers1860
scrub1867
pointless1876
scoreless1885
replayed1886
peg-down1887
all-star1889
stiff1890
varsity1891
postseason1893
knock-out1896
best-of-(a specified odd number)1897
seeded1901
junior varsity1902
Simon Pure1905
pegged-down1908
JV1923
zero-sum1944
tie-breaking1970
1780 Gentleman's Mag. Sept. 436/1 One as innocent regards A snug and friendly game at cards; And one, whatever you may say, Can see no evil in a play.
1816 J. Freeston Direct. & Encouragem. Travellers to Zion xvii. 193 [He] sees no harm in a song or a friendly game of cards.
1831 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Oct. 572/2 The night's social enjoyment was wound up with a friendly rubber for stakes laughably small.
1860 Amherst Coll. Oct. in Univ. Rev. 2 329 We have had a friendly game of ball, and also of chess, with a sister institution over among the mountains.
1921 Times 24 Dec. 14/5 The Casuals afterwards travel to Eastbourne in order to play two friendly games.
1952 Golf Digest May 7 ‘It's just a friendly match’, he said. ‘Wanna take a mulligan?’
1971 Daily Tel. 2 Aug. 3/7 Fighting broke out on the terraces during the Port Vale ‘friendly’ match against Manchester City at Vale Park.
1992 I. Banks Crow Road xi. 276 Maybe Norris and his pals would distract her from this crazed idea of getting air-locked drunk by suggesting a friendly game of cards.
2004 Chess Jan. 15/2 I have won quite a few friendly games with it but never had the sheer kutzpah to try it out in a tournament.
e. Business. Of an acquisition, takeover, etc.: unopposed by the organization sought or acquired; approved by the management and board of directors of the target company. Cf. hostile adj. and n. Additions.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > business affairs > a business or company > [adjective] > types of takeover (bid)
friendly1900
shut-out1969
hostile1972
Pac-Man1982
1900 Railway Mag. Dec. 574/2 The convention between the Helvetic Confederation and the Swiss Central Railway Company for the friendly acquisition of the central system.
1956 Financial Times 21 June 8/2 It is by no means clear that the public interest would have been served by bringing about something like a friendly merger..between Shell-B.P. and Regent Oil.
1989 J. Taylor Circus of Ambition ii. 29 The resulting takeover battles, and the much greater number of friendly deals, turned mergers and acquisitions from a sideline of investment banking into one of its most prestigious and profitable enterprises.
2012 Ottawa Citizen (Nexis) 24 July a1 The deal would see China National Offshore Oil Company..buy Calgary-based Nexen Inc. in a friendly takeover, a move Nexen's board has approved.
f. Military. Of troops, equipment, etc.: of, belonging to, or in alliance with one's own forces. Also: caused or carried out by one's own forces or allies; spec. designating accidental attacks against comrades (see also friendly fire n. at Compounds 2).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > [adjective] > belonging to one's own forces
friendly1903
1903 P. de B. Radcliffe tr. G. Rouquerol Tactical Employment Quick-firing Field Artillery iv. i. 156 It will be better for the infantry to chance a few friendly shells than to be received at short range with a fresh outburst of hostile rifle fire.
1945 Electronic Engin. 17 686/2 An I.F.F. unit can be briefly described as being a transmitter-receiver device installed in friendly aircraft whose purpose is to reply to the interrogation of the friendly Radar station.
1966 New Statesman 14 Oct. 549/2 Friendly forces have made contact with Charlie and a fire fight followed.
1976 C. D. B. Bryan Friendly Fire xvii. 204 I am informed that each instance where Americans have been killed by friendly artillery fire is investigated.
1981 Sci. Amer. Feb. 29/2 Their use..could free friendly boats from patrolling these waters for other missions.
2004 Canberra Times (Nexis) 22 May b8 The recent friendly bombing of a wedding party in Iraq, costing 40 odd guests their lives.
3. Inclined to approve of, look with favour on, or offer help or support to a person, cause, etc.; favourably disposed. Frequently with to, toward, towards.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > [adjective] > favourably disposed
friendlyeOE
favourable1340
placent1898
eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) v. xiv. 440 Þætte usse dæde & usse geðohtas..us eft in ende æteowde beon, oðþe ðurh ða freondlican ænglas [L. per amicos angelos] oðþe ðurh ða feondas.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 2173 If ye wolde thus Unto Cupide..Be frendlich toward mi querele.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Prov. xviii. 24 A man freendli [a1382 E.V. amyable] to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
1464 Let. in Ld. Clermont Wks. J. Fortescue (1869) I. 28 (MED) Alle soche cardinales..mowe be made frendely to oure partie.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms xxiv. [xxv.] 8 O how frendly & rightuous is the Lorde.
1594 J. Dickenson Arisbas sig. D Hetherto Fortune seemed friendly to mine attempts.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) v. i. 93 The Gods to day stand friendly . View more context for this quotation
a1698 W. Temple Wks. (1814) III. 45 Frugal and industrious men are friendly to the established government.
1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. iv. 796 These rites to piety and grief discharg'd, The friendly Gods a springing gale inlarg'd.
1752 Gentleman's Mag. May 234/1 A friendly muse the way would shew To gain the bliss.
1826 J. Foster Let. 2 Aug. in Life & Corr. J. Foster (1846) II. 79 A letter..which contained a most friendly reference to me.
1846 J. E. Worcester Universal Dict. Eng. Lang. Philotechnic, Philotechnical, fond of the arts; friendly to the arts.
1878 J. C. Morison Gibbon 72 The side of his history from which a friendly biographer would most readily turn away.
1947 A. Einstein Music Romantic Era xi. 143 Liszt's eager listeners and friendly colleagues..tried at first to facilitate the understanding of some of Liszt's works.
1967 Q. Econ. Rev. Ireland (Ann. Suppl.) 2 Although the government is friendly towards private industry, the over-riding criterion is efficiency.
2001 R. A. Hogarty Leon Abbet's New Jersey 10 [They] persuaded governors to appoint judges who were friendly toward their interests.
4.
a. Of a thing, influence, etc.: propitious, favourable; helpful, serviceable. Also with to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > [adjective] > advantageous or favourable
likinga1387
friendlya1398
sweetc1400
propice1443
favourablec1460
towardly1520
propitious1581
aspectful1611
auspiciousa1616
benigna1631
fautive1667
benevolenta1676
bright1684
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. iv. viii. 153 Þe bettir þat þe blood is disposid and more frendeliche and profitable to kinde, þe more greuous he is..if it turne to corrupcioun.
c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §4. 19 He is in his dignite & conforted with frendly aspectys of planetes.
1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. G Suche brothes are verye frendly to mans nature.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. iii. 163 O churle, drunke all, and left no friendly drop To help me after. View more context for this quotation
1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms (cvii. 23–30 Paraphr.) 545 By the friendliest gales.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 670 Midnight brought on the duskie houre Friendliest to sleep and silence. View more context for this quotation
1700 T. Emes Let. to Gentleman conc. Alkali & Acid 61 By a proper adhibition of the friendly Humid, these rough Arid particles are made flow, and carried off by Urine or Sweat.
1789 G. White Let. in Nat. Hist. Selborne 291 Were it not for that friendly meteor [sc. snow] no vegetable life could exist at all in northerly regions.
1823 C. Lamb Mackery End in Elia 180 As words written in lemon come out upon exposure to a friendly warmth.
1847 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Peru II. iv. v. 184 He bent down his head to kiss it [sc. the floor], when a stroke, more friendly than the rest, put an end to his existence.
1930 J. Buchan Castle Gay v. 76 They..entered the park... This time they had not the friendly night to shield them.
1980 Pop. Sci. Jan. 43/1 (advt.) We..let a friendly breeze waft us along.
2011 Atlantic Monthly Mar. 52/2 Hong Kong is even more vertical and even friendlier to pedestrians, who can walk in air-conditioned skywalks from skyscraper to skyscraper.
b. That offers protection, security, or respite; helpfully placed; convenient.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > [adjective] > affording protection or defence
defendantc1330
defensivea1400
defensory1552
fensive1582
protectingc1595
defensative1596
secureful1598
fenceful1616
friendly1628
protective1653
protectory1654
screening?a1656
protectant1670
warding1697
safeguard1822
shielding1851
cushioning1887
tutorial1898
the world > action or operation > advantage > convenience > [adjective]
i-tasea1000
queemlOE
gainc1330
conablea1340
convenientc1374
covenablec1380
convenable1421
conveniable1432
comenablea1500
commodious1541
necessary1541
commode1549
commoditious1574
dexterous1605
commoditous1621
friendly1713
clever1757
convenience1961
1628 W. Lathum tr. Virgil Eclogues 84 By the fires side, if it in winter chance; Or if in summer, in the friendly shade.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 123 Neighb'ring Trees, with friendly Shade invite The Troops. View more context for this quotation
1713 J. Addison Cato i. iv At th' approach of Night On the first friendly Bank he throws him down.
1788 W. Crowe Lewesdon Hill 4 This friendly mount, that weather-fends My reed-roof'd cottage.
1817 H. C. B. Campbell Journey to Florence 6 Sept. (1951) 66 Purple grapes..appear in clusters hanging from the friendly canopy formed by the branches.
1885 J. Payn Talk of Town II. 196 A friendly pillar brought Dennis himself to anchorage.
1921 Boys' Life Nov. 16/1 The blistering sun and a parching thirst drove me early in the afternoon to seek the friendly shade of the deep forest in the valley below.
2004 J. Harrison in G. Orr & B. Torrey Jim Harrison g. 205 This improbably skillful memoir that frequently made me wish to climb a mountain and sit on a friendly glacier.
5. Of a thing: displaying affinity, correspondence, or a tendency to form a whole which is pleasingly coherent; harmonious, well-matched. In later use with the implicit sense of benefit to an observer, consumer, etc., overlapping with sense A. 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [adjective]
samtalec1175
samentalea1300
accordingc1300
accordantc1350
covenablec1384
concordable1393
accorda1413
suant1418
consonant1489
convenablea1500
concordant1512
semblable1513
convenient1526
modulatec1530
harmonical1531
harmoniacal1536
agreeable1540
concurrent1542
suitable1568
concinne1569
harmonial1569
sympathical1570
tunable1573
coherenta1575
conspiring1576
well-consenting1579
well-consorted1583
congruous1599
high-tuned1603
symbolizing1611
unjarring1620
concording1627
congruenta1637
harmonious1638
friendlya1641
unclashing1642
complying1646
symphoniacal1650
consistent1651
consentaneous1652
consentivea1657
symbolical1667
concordiousa1670
sympathetic1673
congenerous1677
symbolizant1685
congenial1693
symphonious1743
harmonic1756
concentual1782
undiscordant1819
concordial1822
attuned1833
connate1836
sympathetical1848
concentuous1850
consenting1858
consilient1867
tuned in1958
a1641 J. Everard tr. J. d'Espagnet Enchyridion Physicæ Restitutæ (1651) 75 Various coherent and friendly colours.
1670 T. Gale Court of Gentiles: Pt. II 330 The..friendly conjuncture of these Elements, whence results the Order, Beautie, and Perfection of the Universe.
1716 A. Pope Epist. Jervas in J. Dryden tr. C. A. du Fresnoy Art of Painting (ed. 2) sig. A6v Like friendly Colours [we] found our Arts unite.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §272 To bring all the parts into their most friendly state of contact.
1810 C. T. Watkins Portable Cycl. sig. 3M3 Take care to blend and soften the shadows with such friendly colours as will agree with their local character and obscurity.
1897 Archit. Rec. 6 254/1 A tuneful scale of friendly colors and in contrasts.
1922 Color Trade Jrnl. 10 25/2 Friendly colors may be used in combinations by artists or in any other form of design.
1959 Life 9 Feb. 29/1 (advt.) Blending fine flavors into a friendly whole is a special art with Campbell chefs.
2008 A. Beverly in M. Joffe et al. Lang. Disorders in Children & Adults p. viii Instead of the words being in friendly patterns that make sense; I see a puzzle, a jigsaw, a jumble.
6. Of, relating to, or sympathetic to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Usually with capital initial.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > Christianity > Protestantism > Quakerism > [adjective]
quaking1653
yea-and-nay1656
Quaker-like1657
friendly1671
Quakerish1678
Quakerly1684
Quakeristical1685
Quakerian1696
Foxian1821
Quakeric1847
1671 G. Fox Jrnl. Dec. in Jrnl. Friends' Hist. Soc. (1912) 9 31 Wee came to Manocke Riuer to a friendly womans house & 24th day had a good meeting in a barne & the lords liueing pressents was with us.
?1678 in J. Bullock Antichrists Transformations Within 15 These are to certifie all Friends, and Friendly people whom it may concern, that we testifie against this Doctrine.
1700 G. Whitehead Rambling Pilgrim 31 Nor redound to his Esteem in the Eyes of any Sincere, Consciencious Friends among us, or Friendly People towards us.
1795–6 J. Evans Jrnl. in D. H. Fischer Albion's Seed (1989) 424 Many of the people hereabouts have had an education among Friends, and are Friendly.
1813 T. Clarkson Mem. Private & Public Life of William Penn I. xiii. 203 He employed himself, while in this city, in visiting Friends and friendly people.
1886 American 12 155 Whose family are Friendly people.
1921 R. M. Jones Later Periods Quakerism II. xix. 762 He was born of Friendly stock in the village of Eaglesfield.
1957 Friend 16 Aug. The Friendly conduct of business.
1982 Quaker Life Mar. 44/2 (advt.) A Friendly intergenerational Quaker Community.
7.
a. Chiefly Computing. = user-friendly adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > [adjective] > relating to user interface > easy to use
user-oriented1957
friendly1966
user-orientated1967
user-friendly1972
1966 Science 29 Apr. 687 (advt.) Spear micro-Linc is a very friendly computer.
1982 Newsweek 22 Feb. 53/2 Software producers rarely test their materials with neophytes like me... But there are programs, called ‘friendly’ in the industry, that offer heady relief.
1991 Current Bks. Mag. Fall 17/1 Get a pen that makes a sensuous line, get a comfortable typewriter, a friendly word processor—whichever feels easy to the hand.
2001 B. Hill Getting Started Online Personal Finance vii. 145 Using a friendly system of multiple drop-down selection menus, BanxQuote makes it easy to choose a product type.
b. Esp. of a product or process: designed, produced, or operating in a way that minimizes harm to the natural environment.Earliest in environmentally friendly adj. at environmentally adv. Compounds.
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the world > action or operation > safety > [adjective] > safe or not dangerous > safe or harmless > to the environment
environmentalist1968
environmentally sound1969
environmentally friendly1971
friendly1971
low-impact1972
sustainable1976
environmental1977
environmental friendly1977
sustainability1980
eco-sensitive1982
environment-friendly1982
nature-friendly1984
ozone-friendly1988
earth-friendly1989
eco-friendly1989
1971 Guardian 18 Nov. 5 Encourage the use of ‘the healthy and environmentally friendly bicycle’.
1988 Pract. Health Spring 66/2 A new hair spray with a health angle..is friendly to the environment as well as having a long-lasting hold.
1990 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 24 Feb. 8/6 (headline) Stores drop ‘friendly’ plastic bags.
2004 R. Ramlogan Developing World & Environment 7. 254 Many UN agencies work towards the development of appropriate technology friendly to the environment.
c. As the second element of compounds, with the sense ‘well-adapted, convenient, or suitable for——, safe for use by——, likely to benefit or cause minimal harm to——’; environment-, gay-, nature-, reader-, user-friendly, etc.: see the first element.Some less common formations are illustrated here. [Compounds of this type are found from the 1970s. Early examples include user-friendly adj. and child-friendly adj. at child n. Compounds 1b. With the use in user-friendly adj. compare earlier uses at A. 7a. With the use in environment-friendly adj. at environment n. Compounds 3 and nature-friendly adj. at nature n. Compounds 4b compare environmentally friendly adj. at environmentally adv. Compounds and uses at A. 7b.]
ΚΠ
1977 Daily Tel. 16 May 16/1 The United States hopes the election of a ‘Euro-friendly’ Labour Government will mark the start of a restoration of closer ties with Britain.
1985 Times Educ. Suppl. 11 Jan. 6/5 This subject is considered one of the least ‘girl-friendly’, because it is more geared towards traditionally masculine interests.
1987 USA Today 14 Oct. 8/1 Clearly it's the most overtly yuppie-friendly show on air.
1989 Q Mar. 71/1 Theirs is..a sound that isn't radio friendly.
1991 Newsweek 18 Feb. 49/2 Old, ungainly, radar-friendly aircraft like the A-6, A-7, A-10, F-111, F-14, F-15 and B-52 are prancing through Iraqi airspace without getting shot down.
2011 N.Y. Mag. 11 Apr. 79/4 The streets around pretty, kid-friendly McGolrick Park..have been gaining fans, many of them upsizing refugees from Williamsburg.
B. n.
1.
a. An ally, a supporter; (in early use esp.) a member of an indigenous people that is not hostile to colonial settlers. Usually in plural.
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the world > people > ethnicities > division of mankind by physical characteristics > non-white person > [noun] > friendly
friendly1836
1836 W. Potter War in Florida 143 The friendlies informed the General, that a few miles lower down he would find a more open country, with pine barren woods.
1869 B. Y. Ashwell Let. 8 May IV. 554 200 Friendlies went with Heta.
1885 Pall Mall Gaz. 17 Mar. 8/1 Our Arab ‘friendlies’ declare that [etc.].
1922 Amer. Anthropologist 24 282 Oraibi was divided in two classes, hostiles and friendlies.
1969 S. M. Hersh in J. E. Lewis Mammoth Bk. War Correspondents (2001) 542 There weren't any friendlies in the village. The orders were to shoot anything that moved.
1984 G. H. Clarfield & W. M. Wiecek Nucl. Amer. viii. 224 The CIA knew about the accident..from information leaked out by Russian ‘friendlies’ in the U.S.S.R.
2002 Esquire Aug. 110/1 He could show the Northern Alliance men below, the friendlies who still didn't know he was here.
b. Military. Usually in plural. Troops, artillery, etc., deployed by one's own or an allied force.
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society > armed hostility > warriors collectively > [noun] > own or allied
friendly1964
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > piece of artillery > [noun] > artillery deployed by own or allied force
friendly1964
1964 Life 28 Feb. 21/2 A force known as the ‘Friendlies’—mostly soldiers airlifted from the continental U.S.
1991 Independent 22 Feb. 3/1 What we've found is that when you have two opposing forces intertwined, it's difficult to separate the friendlies from the enemy.
2003 S.W.A.T. May 38/3 The danger of any ambush with ambushers on both sides of a trail..is that cross fire will hit friendlies.
2. Sport (originally and chiefly Association Football). A game or match that does not form part of a serious competition, as a cup or league, typically played for practice or as an exhibition.
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society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun] > types of
all comersc1450
after-gamea1500
fore-game1594
revenge1616
plate1639
set-to1743
return match1753
bye1754
scrub-race1791
anybody's game (also race, match)1826
return1834
barney1843
bonspiel1858
handicap1861
pennant1865
home-and-home1868
benefit match1871
run-off1873
international1877
American tournament1878
Grand Prix1879
single1884
friendly1885
all-comers1889
pair1890
championship1893
round robin1894
replay1895
Olympiad1896
junior varsity1902
lightning tournament1903
rematch1903
road trip1903
pickup1905
freestyle1906
marathon1908
test1908
Derby1909
scrimmage1910
eliminator1911
twosome1911
triala1914
quadrangular1916
slug-fest1916
varsity match1921
needle contest1922
curtain jerker1923
needle match1923
open1926
needle fight1927
knock-out1928
shirt1930
masters1933
pro-amateur1934
tune-up1934
World Cup1934
pro-am1937
state1941
sizzler1942
runathon1943
mismatch1954
run-out1955
match-up1959
squeaker1961
triple-header1961
Super Bowl1967
invitational1968
needle game1970
major1976
slobberknocker1986
1885 Dundee Courier & Argus 19 Oct. 4/1 They played the first of their friendlies with the Strathmore on Rollo's Pier.
1894 Athletic News 5 Nov. 4 The Sunderland and Woolwich Arsenal match was a friendly.
1903 P. G. Wodehouse Tales of St. Austin's 22 Lucky the game was only a friendly.
1963 Times 11 May 3/6 He has appeared in a number of first-team friendlies.
2011 Irish Times (Nexis) 12 Aug. (Sports section) 18 Séamus Coleman still seems unlikely to be available..after suffering ankle ligament damage in a pre-season friendly.
Compounds
C1.
a. Complementary, as friendly-looking, friendly-seeming, etc.
ΚΠ
1621 R. Aylett Brides Ornaments in Song of Songs iii. v. 46 There are besides this friendly seeming Ioy, Other that are professed enemy's.
1689 J. Heath Eng. Chron. 23 Friendly seeming Saxons.
1749 tr. E. Holdsworth Muscipula in Diss. Virgil's Georgics 165 With friendly-seeming wellcome.
1869 W. D. Howells Let. 26 June in Sel. Lett. (1979) I. 331 A certain friendly-looking old gentleman.
1905 C. Kernahan Visions 264 Comely of face and figure, soft-voiced, friendly-seeming.
1982 New Scientist 28 Oct. 234/2 The voice synthesis hardware's friendly-sounding voice tells the user what to do.
1997 Bizarre Mar. 88/4 Opening it to reveal pictures of a particularly friendly-looking girl.
b. Parasynthetic, as friendly-faced, friendly-minded, etc.
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a1546 G. Wishart tr. Confescion Fayth Sweserlandes (?1548) sig. A.iii The pryncypal entent of al the scripture canonicall is to declare that God is beniuolent and frendly mynded to mankynde.
1651 H. More Second Lash of Alazonomastix 151 A bad man cannot be friendly disposed towards himself, as having nothing in himself amiable and friendly.
1781 M. Madan Thelyphthora III. 390 Be..friendly or friendly-minded—benign.
1843 M. Howitt Work & Wages vi. 72 She knew where that friendly-faced Mrs. Evans lived.
1901 Atlantic Monthly May 596/1 These gentlemen, young and handsome, friendly-eyed, silver-tongued.
1943 Life 22 Nov. (rear cover) (advt.) A symbol of good will among the friendly-minded.
1990 L. de Bernières War Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts ix. 66 A sob came to his throat one day at the sight of a large, friendly-faced cavy and his heart..reached out to the creature.
C2.
friendly bacteria n. bacteria which have beneficial effects, esp. on the human gut; cf. probiotic n. 2.
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1881 Albany Med. Ann. July 98 We often cannot distinguish between the friendly or scavenger bacteria..and those of disease.
1909 Native Amer. 22 May 209/2 Just as we have friendly bacteria in our bodies so the milk has friendly bacteria which gives the butter its flavor.
1944 Pop. Sci. Monthly July 273/1 The principle of a septic tank lies in the changing of solids into liquids by the action of friendly bacteria.
2011 R. Morgan Food for Thought vii. 66 A healthy lower intestine should contain at least 85% friendly bacteria to prevent the over colonisation of disease-causing micro-organisms.
friendly fire n. Military weapon fire coming from one's own forces or allies, esp. (in later use) when it causes accidental death or injury to one's comrades.
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society > armed hostility > war > [noun] > harm caused by war > to one's own side
friendly fire1918
1918 N.Y. Times 18 Oct. 11 A machine gun barrage laid down on the enemy emplacements was friendly fire from a unit not in their support and acting without orders to cover their advance.
1944 N.Y. Times 3 Apr. 1/5 Admiral Nimitz disclosed that thirteen Americans had been killed and forty-six wounded by friendly fire in another ‘tragic episode’ of the war.
1966 Reader's Digest 105/2 ‘Drawing enemy fire from the right.’ ‘Negative, negative... Those are friendly troops down there.’ ‘Affirmative... Drawing friendly fire from the right.’
1991 Independent 22 Feb. 3/1 Since the war began, more American troops are thought to have been killed by ‘friendly fire’ than by the Iraqis, most by air-launched missiles.
2003 A. Swofford Jarhead 212 Word has it that two light-armored-vehicle crew members were blown to fuck yesterday by friendly fire—an A-10 Warthog dropped a bomb on them, by mistake, a big fucking devastating bomb, by mistake.
friendly-fiendly adj. rare partly friendly and partly hostile and unfriendly.
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1876 Ld. Tennyson Harold iii. i. 75 With that friendly-fiendly smile of his.
1990 Option May–June 64/1 His coopting of ethnic strains from Africa and..Cuban and Brazilian traditions, his films, and his compelling friendly/fiendly persona.
Friendly Games n. (an informal name for) the Commonwealth Games.
ΚΠ
1962 Times 3 Dec. 5/1 The phrase ‘The Friendly Games’ had become a truism rather than a cliché.
1983 P. Charlton State of Mind 190 There was something..hypocritical about the Queensland government's approach to the Commonwealth Games, the so-called ‘Friendly Games’.
2012 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 25 July (Sport section) 19 The Commonwealth Games are known as the ‘Friendly Games’ for a good reason.
Friendly Islands n. (a name for) the island group that constitutes the Kingdom of Tonga.The name is said to have been applied to the islands as a result of the friendly reception accorded to Captain Cook by the Tongans in 1773.
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the world > the earth > named regions of earth > Pacific Islands > [noun] > Polynesia
Friendly Islands1777
1777 J. Cook Voy. round World I. Introd. p. xvii One of those islands which Tasman had called Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Middleburg, now better known under the name of the Friendly Islands.
1817 W. Mariner & J. Martin Acct. Natives Tonga Islands I. ii. 41 Finding she had missed Otaheite,..she [sc. a ship] steered to the westward for the Friendly islands.
1881 Pall Mall Gaz. 29 Apr. 12/1 The missionaries, wiser..than their brethren in the Friendly Islands, have sought rather to reform than to abolish native customs.
1918 Boys' Life Feb. 59/1 Such a vast chasm as that existing in the South Pacific, between the Kermadees and the Friendly Islands.
2012 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 6 Aug. Renewable energy investment will end up paying off in the long run, not just in the Friendly Islands, but also in New Zealand.
friendly lead n. now historical (in the poorer areas of Victorian and Edwardian London) a party or other entertainment held by the friends of a sick, destitute, or recently deceased person in order to raise money to help the person or pay for his or her funeral.
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society > leisure > social event > fund-raising events > [noun] > others
box supper1851
friendly lead1856
pound party1869
American tea1915
American supper1916
1856 Ragged School Union Mag. Apr. 63 The music from the room above administers to the convivialities of a ‘friendly lead’ in behalf of John Pennyless, who has been out of employment six months.
1886 W. Besant Children of Gibeon III. ii. xxxii. 254 The great table dented..with a thousand hammerings of pewter pots at friendly leads.
1906 G. R. Sims Living London (rev. ed.) II. 78/2 He has drawn his last breath, and his comrades have a arranged a ‘brick’ or ‘friendly lead’ in his behalf. The ‘brick’ is held in the parlour of a public-house. On a table near the door is a plate into which every visitor drops a coin.
1991 C. L. Berstein Celebration Scandal ii. 72 The culture of the slums, including such collective rituals as the dancing, the market nights, the political meetings, the friendly leads.
friendly society n. (also with capital initials) any of various associations providing mutual insurance schemes, typically a mutual association providing life assurance (and now usually other types of insurance), sickness benefits, and pensions.In early use frequently with the and capital initials, as the name of a fire-insurance company founded in London in 1683. The earliest example of the typical kind was the Friendly Benefit Society of Bethnal Green, founded in 1687.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > [noun] > insurance association or friendly society
Rechabite1637
friendly society1684
provident society1771
provident club1797
benefit-society1801
benefit-club1812
burial-society1812
ménage1815
burial club1848
forestry1861
tontine1871
shepherdry1900
approved society1911
1684 (title) The Friendly Society; or, A proposal of a new way or method for securing houses from any considerable loss by fire, by way of subscription, and mutuall contribution.
1696 (title) The friendly society for widows being a proposal for..securing women from falling into poverty and distress at the death of their husbands.
1720 London Gaz. No. 5909/3 The Friendly Society (or Sheaf or Arrows) give Notice, That they assure Losses from Fire.
1819 Gentleman's Mag. 529 He placed the property of Friendly Societies under the protection of the laws.
1863 H. Fawcett Man. Polit. Econ. ii. ix. 256 A trades-union performs the ordinary functions of a friendly society.
1911 Lancet 13 May 1320/2 There were only one or two friendly societies which at the present moment allowed any maternity benefit.
1952 Oxf. Junior Encycl. X. 171/1 Under the 1911 National Health Act certain registered friendly societies..were used by the Government as part of the health scheme to pay out as ‘sick benefit’ sums of money provided by the Government.
2007 C. MacFarlane Real Gorbals Story (2009) iii. 40 Some had been more far-sighted and paid threepence a week to a friendly society to guarantee medical care.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
friendlyadv.
/ˈfrɛn(d)li/, U.S. /ˈfrɛn(d)li/ Now chiefly U.S. colloquial.
In a friendly manner; like a friend; amicably.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [adverb]
friendlyeOE
wellOE
friendfullyc1379
amiablya1400
lovelilya1400
peacefullya1400
friendlike?a1513
friendlilyc1550
chummily1934
matily1941
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) Pref. 3 Ælfred kyning hateð gretan Wærferð biscep his wordum luflice & freondlice.
OE Beowulf (2008) 1027 Ne gefrægn ic freondlicor feower madmas..gummanna fela..oðrum gesellan.
a1161 Royal Charter: Henry II to Certain Bishops, Earls, Sheriffs, & Thegns in J. Hall Select. Early Middle Eng. (1920) I. 12 H[enry] þurh godes ȝefu ænglelandes king, gret ealle mine bissceopas & ealle mine eorlas..freondlice.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 7408 We scullen an londe..Godes folc urofrien & freond-liche hit halden.
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. xi. 171 Was neuer gome vppon grounde..Feirore vndurfonge ne frendloker maad at ese.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15294 For-wit his disciplis fete Ful freindli he fell.
a1450 York Plays (1885) 322 So frendly he fared.
1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. James i. f. xxix Euen so muste we agayne bee bothe mercyfull and frendely liberall towardes our neighbour.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 281 Than spak he freindly.
1608 S. Rowlands Humors Looking Glasse 9 Vnles he friendly drew his purse.
1691 W. Yworth New Art of making Wines ii. 15 Interwoven attomes, which nature had so friendly united.
1705 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 21 Nov. Wch [he] was friendly told of.
1790 Coll. Voy. round World V. ix. 1672 Some of the men marry three wives, who in general live friendly together.
1807 P. Gass Jrnls. 255 The natives used us friendly and with kindness.
1869 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest III. xii. 157 He tended him friendly in his castle for three days.
1902 Current Lit. Nov. 561/2 Danny greeted him friendly, as of old, with faint flicker of ears and slow-moved tail.
1977 Newsweek (Nexis) 12 Dec. 36 It can be felt..in the signs along every Texas highway asking motorists to Drive Friendly.
2011 D. Goldman & K. Abraham Father's Love vi. 57 We can do this together and do it friendly, but if you are not going to come here, things are going to change.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.eOE
adv.eOE