Over the years we’ve grown very fond of each other.fondfond /fɒnd $ fɑːnd/ ●●○ adjective 
Joe’s quite fond of her, isn’t he? Over the years we’ve grown very fond of each other.2be fond of (doing) something to like something, especially something you have liked for a long time: I’m not overly fond of cooking. I’d grown fond of the place and it was difficult to leave.3be fond of doing something to do something often, especially something that annoys other people: My grandfather was very fond of handing out advice to all my friends.4[only before noun] a fond look, smile, action etc shows you like someone very much SYN affectionate: He gave her a fond look. As we parted we said a fond farewell.5have fond memories of something/somebody to remember someone or something with great pleasure: Marie still had fond memories of their time together.6a fond hope/belief a belief or hope that something will happen, which seems silly because it is very unlikely to happenin the fond hope/belief that They sent him to another school in the fond hope that his behaviour would improve.—fondness noun [uncountable]: a fondness for expensive clothes → fondly
WORD ORIGINfond
Origin:
1300-1400 fonne ‘stupid person’ (13-16 centuries)EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- But mostly this is a love story, and Andersen is clearly fond of his subjects.
- He was very fond of her but it strained imagination to see how she could fit into a policeman's life.
- I became fond of his face.
- She was much too fond of Heathcliff, and the worst punishment we could invent was to keep her separate from him.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Over the years we’ve grown very fond of each other. I’d grown fond of the place and it was difficult to leave. As we parted we said a fond farewell. a fondness for expensive clothesCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Over the years we’ve grown very fond of each other. I’d grown fond of the place and it was difficult to leave. As we parted we said a fond farewell. a fondness for expensive clothes (=about someone or something you like)· She had fond memories of her aunt and uncle.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Dotty Blundell had grown especially fond of Stella.· He was especially fond of the words he found in articles on soccer-flat-booted, duck-hook.· They are nearly all excellent and dead shots and are especially fond of shooting.· Rob was her rapt audience, especially fond of her Hamlet.· He is not especially fond of killing animals but, as a countryman, he sees culling deer as a necessity.· I was especially fond of the chocolate biscuits decorated with crystallised violets.
· There were several large photographs and the one that he was particularly fond of certainly gives the impression of the successful impresario.· She is particularly fond of animals.· He is particularly fond of hot beetroot, recommending it as an accompaniment to roast saddle of hare - a delicious combination.· Tins of things; they seemed particularly fond of tinned peaches, there was a whole stack of tins of peaches.· The crew were singing: ... a bit he'd never been particularly fond of.· The Bunuel family was particularly fond of these programmes.· Mr Hurd seemed particularly fond of the idea.
· Willie longed desperately to be in Mrs Hartridge's class even though he had since grown quite fond of Mrs Black.· They are quite fond of each other, though of differing temperaments.· Bernie himself was becoming quite fond of her and Noreen thought he saw more of her than of his sister.· She was convinced that he was in reality quite fond of them both.· Clara even grew quite fond of Mrs Hill, and proud of herself for feeling fond of one so odd.· She is, however, quite fond of the commemorative scar.
· And anyway she's rather fond of the chameleons herself.· Like most people he was rather fond of house lizards.
· So he said that if she was so fond of water, he'd make sure she got plenty.· I used to be pleased he was so fond of Diana.· The jewels, the diamonds, the baubles you're so fond of?· That is why they are so fond of reorganization.· She had grown so fond of the big Lion she was glad he had been rescued.· It was just that we were all so fond of her.· Breeze was fond of Schumann, but not so fond that she could listen to him now!
· Come Epiphany, she had grown too fond of them to take them down.· Apparently some people are just too fond of the Old Pueblo for their own good.· He was a little too fond of drink and would occasionally get into fights.· She was much too fond of Heathcliff, and the worst punishment we could invent was to keep her separate from him.· Alice is an anti-smoking vegetarian who is already too fond of red wine.· The old guard, too fond of international conferences, has given way to a younger breed of activist.· Personally, I am rather too fond of my sanity to risk it in this way.· He also was not too fond of dancing.
· Rosa said she was very fond of fish.· He had always liked her, had grown very fond of her and now he was finding her intensely desirable.· I was always very fond of Charlie.· And he happens to be very fond of her.· Annie herself had grown very fond of the child.· Kirsty knows her well and they're very fond of each other.
NOUN· History may come to see that embrace as a gesture of fond farewell.· I just can't get off the scale Moby and I swapped fond farewells as She-She led me away.· I bid a fond farewell to the stack of porno mags beside my bed.· And after designing 72 issues of Zzap! 64 I bid you all fond farewell and big hello to Commodore Force!· I see it as a fond farewell.· It was to be fond farewells all round.· My priestly friend set me down outside the two cathedrals and I bade him a fond farewell.
· On that fond hope, she is likely to be disappointed.· That overcautious disposition was noticed long ago, but there was a fond hope that experience would cure it.· Love took over and my fondest hope was to win her hand.
· Railway Street is a name retained as a fond memory for a public transport system axed by Beeching in 1966.· I have some very fond memories of track life.· However we're going home with fond memories of a marvellous competition.· He ought to have fond memories of the place.· He lived on, a myth, in their fond memories.· I have only fond memories of my childhood in my own village.· Her fond memories anyway, and what did Lucy think?· I have fond memories of Sussex-playing pool and, much more to the point, the excellent discussions on science.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1be fond of somebody to like someone very much, especially when you have known them for a long time and almost feel love for them: - That overcautious disposition was noticed long ago, but there was a fond hope that experience would cure it.
- I haven't seen Ed for a while, but I'm very fond of him.
- Dad was fond of whisky, but normally only drank on an evening when work was done.
- First, he knew Lewie was fond of him, and Lewie was the boss.
- He is fond of Machiavelli the rake, the prankster and the scoundrel.
- He travelled extensively, was fond of music, and was a competent pianist.
- Just why this is called a boil-off and just why auditors are fond of the term is obscure.
- Kromko noted lawyers and their ilk are fond of worthless boiler-plate.
- Like most good myths, some of the details remain blurred, and Devi herself was fond of obfuscation.
- She was fond of, she liked, probably she loved, Wharton Horricker.
- All this results in a rare phenomenon: Marks and Spencer is a company people are fond of.
- Commentators are fond of discovering and praising a guidebook clarity in the novel.
- First, he knew Lewie was fond of him, and Lewie was the boss.
- I am fond of him, he has been unfailingly kind to me.
- Kromko noted lawyers and their ilk are fond of worthless boiler-plate.
- Like Dad, he was fond of whisky.
- She was fond of, she liked, probably she loved, Wharton Horricker.
- There was a desk I was fond of, it's true.
- "The only reason I make money is so I can give it away," Quigley is fond of saying.
- Sue's very fond of hiking and backpacking.
- Dad was fond of whisky, but normally only drank on an evening when work was done.
- First, he knew Lewie was fond of him, and Lewie was the boss.
- He is fond of Machiavelli the rake, the prankster and the scoundrel.
- He travelled extensively, was fond of music, and was a competent pianist.
- Just why this is called a boil-off and just why auditors are fond of the term is obscure.
- Kromko noted lawyers and their ilk are fond of worthless boiler-plate.
- She was fond of, she liked, probably she loved, Wharton Horricker.
- He ought to have fond memories of the place.
- I have fond memories of Sussex-playing pool and, much more to the point, the excellent discussions on science.
- She would have been pleased that the youngsters who come and go will have fond memories of their day in hospital.
Joe’s quite fond of her, isn’t he? Over the years we’ve grown very fond of each other.2be fond of (doing) something to like something, especially something you have liked for a long time: I’m not overly fond of cooking. I’d grown fond of the place and it was difficult to leave.3be fond of doing something to do something often, especially something that annoys other people: My grandfather was very fond of handing out advice to all my friends.4[only before noun] a fond look, smile, action etc shows you like someone very much SYN affectionate: He gave her a fond look. As we parted we said a fond farewell.5have fond memories of something/somebody to remember someone or something with great pleasure: Marie still had fond memories of their time together.6a fond hope/belief a belief or hope that something will happen, which seems silly because it is very unlikely to happenin the fond hope/belief that They sent him to another school in the fond hope that his behaviour would improve.—fondness noun [uncountable]: a fondness for expensive clothes → fondly