Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
fond 1[fond] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for fond on Thesaurus.com adjective, fond·er, fond·est.
- having a liking or affection for (usually followed by of): to be fond of animals.
- loving; affectionate: to give someone a fond look.
- excessively tender or overindulgent; doting: a fond parent.
- cherished with strong or unreasoning feeling: to nourish fond hopes of becoming president.
- Archaic. foolish or silly.
- Archaic. foolishly credulous or trusting.
Origin of fond 1 1300–50; Middle English fond, fonned (past participle of fonnen to be foolish, orig., to lose flavor, sour)Synonyms for fond See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com 2. cherishing. 5. infatuated. 6. gullible. Related Words for fondest sympathetic, affectionate, enamored, sentimental, indulgent, addicted, amorous, devoted, doting, loving, mushy, partial, predisposed, responsive, romantic, tender, warm, adoring, attached, caring Examples from the Web for fondest Contemporary Examples of fondest
My fondest memory of Christopher was Valentines Day in 2005.
My Friend and Mentor, Christopher Hitchens
Eli Lake
December 16, 2013
Looking back at the last 26 years, what is your fondest memory of working with John Thaw on Morse?
Meet ‘Inspector Lewis’: Kevin Whately on ‘Morse,’ John Thaw, and the End of the Series
Jace Lacob
June 14, 2013
While Baldwin is best known for his onscreen performances, but he says his fondest memories are of the theater.
Alec Baldwin’s Twitter Troubles
Sandra McElwaine
April 17, 2012
So our fondest hope is not for eternal life, but an end to this wheel of existence through eternal death.
Eat Pray Love’s Spiritual Tourism
Gita Mehta
August 13, 2010
In losing, John McCain has fulfilled his fondest wish: revenge on the Republican Party.
News Shrink
November 5, 2008
Historical Examples of fondest
His pride would be gratified, and his fondest desires realized.
Joaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso
I cannot abjure that world which contains the fondest object that links me to life.
Joaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso
You are the possession that I am proudest of and fondest of.
Harold Frederic
Suppose we say that each of you may choose the two things you are fondest of.
Four Little Blossoms at Brookside Farm
Mabel C. Hawley
These colours go best with their brown skins, and they are fondest of them.
H. Fielding
British Dictionary definitions for fondest fond 1 adjective
- (postpositive foll by of) predisposed (to); having a liking (for)
- loving; tendera fond embrace
- indulgent; dotinga fond mother
- (of hopes, wishes, etc) cherished but unlikely to be realizedhe had fond hopes of starting his own business
- archaic, or dialect
- foolish
- credulous
Derived Formsfondly, adverbfondness, nounWord Origin for fond C14 fonned, from fonnen to be foolish, from fonne a fool fond 2 noun
- the background of a design, as in lace
- obsolete fund; stock
Word Origin for fond C17: from French, from Latin fundus bottom; see fund Word Origin and History for fondest fond adj.
mid-14c., originally “foolish, silly,” from past tense of fonnen “to fool, be foolish,” perhaps from Middle English fonne “fool” (early 14c.), of uncertain origin; or possibly related to fun.
Meaning evolved by 1590 via “foolishly tender” to “having strong affections for.” Another sense of fonne was “to lose savor,” which may be the original meaning of the word (e.g. Wyclif: “Gif þe salt be fonnyd it is not worþi,” c.1380). Related: Fonder; fondest.