▪ I. fond, n.
Also 7, 9 fonds, 8 fonde. Now only as an alien word, pronounced (fɔ̃).
[a. F. fond, fonds:—OF. fonz, fons (see founce).
The word became fully naturalized in the 17th c. In the 18th c. it was superseded in ordinary use by fund, which is a refashioned form after L. fundus. Subsequently, however, the F. word frequently appears (usually in italics) in Eng. writers. In F., the forms fond and fonds, formerly used indiscriminately, are now differentiated in sense; but Eng. writers often use the wrong form.]
1. Foundation, ground, groundwork (in various applications). (In Fr. now written fond.)
| 1664 Evelyn tr. Freart's Archit. 141 All sorts of precious Marbles..cut and lay'd into a fonds or ground of black-Marble. 1665 Sir P. Warwick in Evelyn's Mem. (1819) II. 162 The present Prizes..being a better fond of credit. 1704 Swift T. Tub iv. 93 This Grandeur.. could not be maintained without a better Fonde than what he was born to. 1825 Jeffrey in Edin. Rev. Aug. 429 But the fonds of the character is the same. 1844 Thackeray in Fraser's Mag. Feb. 155/2 The spirits are for the most part artificial, the fond is sadness. 1867 Lowell Lett. (1894) I. 394 There is no early French literature of any value in which the Teutonic blood did not supply the fond. |
b. Lace-making. (See quots.)
| 1882 Caulfield & Saward Dict. Needlework, Fond, Identical with Champ, Entoilage, and Treille, terms by which the groundwork of lace..is distinguished from the Toilé, or pattern, which it surrounds and supports. These grounds are divided into Fonds Claire, Brides Claire, and Brides Ornées. The Fonds Claire include the Réseau or net patterned grounds and varieties of the same. |
2. A source of supply, stock, store or stores. Obs. in material sense. (In Fr. now fonds.)
| 1685 Dryden Albion & Albanus Pref., Here, therefore, if they will Criticise, they shall do it out of their own Fond. 1704 Swift T. Tub vii. 142 Some new Fonde of Wit should, if possible, be provided. 1707 Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 92 The Juices of Plants are one of the richest Fonds of Physick. 1872 Mrs. Oliphant Ombra I. ii, Kate herself was not indifferent to the fond of appreciation thus secured to her. |
† 3. A stock or sum of money, esp. one set apart for a particular purpose; pecuniary means, revenues. (In Fr. now fonds.) Obs.
| 1673 Temple Observ. United Prov. Wks. 1731 I. 38 This Fond being not sufficient in Times of War, is supplied by the States with whatever more is necessary from other Fonds. 1690 Will. III. Sp. Parl. 25 Nov. in Lond. Gaz. No. 2613/1 The Civil Government, which has no Fonds for its Support. 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. p. cxi, The want of any Fonds to support the Charge of such Office. |
† 4. A sum of money, a stock of goods, or amount of revenues, serving as a security for specified payments. (In Fr. now fonds.) Obs.
| 1677 Chas. II. in Marvell Growth Popery 39 Without the sum Six hundred thousand pounds, or Credit for such a sum, upon new Fonds. a 1687 Petty Pol. Arith. x. (1691) 114 Making a Fond of such value, to be security for all Commodities. 1693 Mem. Ct. Teckely i. 47 The Princess..had seized the fonds whereupon the Pension of their Ministers was assigned. 1714 Lond. Gaz. No. 5260/4 Debts..secur'd by Judgment, Statute, Recognizance, Fond, or Specialty. |
† 5. Printing = fount. Obs.
| 1678 Phillips, Fond or Fund..Among Letter-founders, a parcel of Printing Letters, as many as are Printed at a time. |
▪ II. fond, a. and n.2
(fɒnd)
Forms: 4 fonned, -yd, 5 fonnet, 5– fond, 5–7 fonde, 9 Sc. and dial. font.
[ME. fonned, f. fon v. + -ed1.]
A. adj. (orig. ppl. a.).
† 1. That has lost its savour; insipid; sickly-flavoured. Obs. exc. dial.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 57 Ȝif þe salt be fonnyd it is not worþi. 1388 ― Prol. x. 31 He is seid fonned salt, not prophitable to eny thing. 1784 Cullum Hist. Hawsted 171 Fond, faint or fulsome; applied to smell or taste. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Fond, luscious; fulsome; disagreeably sweet, in taste or in smell. |
2. Infatuated, foolish, silly. Since 16th c. the sense in literary use has been chiefly: Foolishly credulous or sanguine. In dialects the wider sense is still current. Cf. fonned ppl. a.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter Cant. 523 Sho ioyed not..in vanytes of þis lyfe as our fonnyd maydyns dos now. 1388 Wyclif Exod. xviii. 18 Thou art wastid with a fonned trauel. a 1400–50 Alexander 5513 A fonned fantasy þan fell in his hert. c 1460 Towneley Myst. 199 This fond foylle. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 63 b, And suche communly be as dotrelles, whiche is a fonde byrde. 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 241 He yat is young thinketh the olde man fond. 1650 Fuller Pisgah ii. xii. 250 Never more to fright Children with fond tales of Bug-bears. 1681 Glanvill Sadducismus Ded., I am not fond enough to phancy any Art..to recommend it. a 1703 Burkitt On N.T. Heb. xi. 22 To dig mens' bones out of their graves, to enshrine them..is fond and ridiculous. a 1748 Watts Improv. Mind ii. iii. §8, I am not so fond as to think I have [etc.]. 1798 W. Hutton Autobiog. 36 Seized with a fond fit of farming, I took the place into my own hands. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. ii. ii. (1872) 65 Writing from the abundance of his own fond ineptitude. 1832 Hare in Philol. Mus. I. 247 An attempt to settle its age cannot with any justice be censured as a fond waste of time in mere literary trifling. 1847–8 H. Miller First Impr. viii. (1857) 129 Evangelistic Dissent was fond enough to believe the cause a common one. 1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss., Fond, foolish, weakminded. |
| quasi-adv. 1601 Shakes. All's Well i. iii. 76 Fond done, done fond, was this King Priams ioy. |
3. In stronger sense: Idiotic, imbecile, mad; also, dazed. † With to: Mad for. Obs. exc. dial.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 6182 The pepull of Poyem..were fond to the fight. 1483 Cath. Angl. 137/1 Fonde, arepticius, astrosus. 1640 Durh. Vestry Bks. (Surtees) 303 For puttinge fond Allye's child to nursinge..is. 4d. 1781 J. Hutton Tour to Caves Gloss., Fond, silly, stupid like an ideot. 1876 Mid-Yorksh. Gloss., Fond, silly. ‘I'd a dizziness in my head that turned me fair fond.’ |
† 4. Of things: Valued only by fools, trifling, trivial. Obs.
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. ii. ii. 149 Ile bribe you..Not with fond Sickles of the tested gold. 1645 Ussher Body Div. (1647) 239 When we sweare by..bread, salt, fire, and many fond trashes. |
5. a. Of persons, their actions and attributes: Foolishly tender; over-affectionate, doting. In later use without reproachful sense: Affectionate, loving, tender.
| 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 106 A cooling Carde for Philautus and all fond louers. 1641 Hinde J. Bruen x. 34 Fond affection without moderation. 1749 Wesley Wks. (1872) XIII. 162 A loving husband is a very amiable character. A fond one I think is not so. 1759 Robertson Hist. Scot. I. 10 A hero to whom the fond admiration of his country-men hath ascribed many fabulous acts of prowess. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xxii, I called up the many fond things I had to say. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. iii. 60 She..in the light Of her fond parents' love was fostered. 1854 Mrs. Oliphant Magd. Hepburn III. 285 Ritchie is fond, and loves to see me fair arrayed. |
b. Of opinions, sentiments, etc.: Cherished or entertained with strong or unreasoning affection.
| 1635 N. R. Camden's Hist. Eliz. (an. 21). ii. 200 Don John..resigned his fond ambition. 1683 Soame & Dryden tr. Boileau's Art of Poetry iv. 63 In vain their fond Opinions you deride, With their lov'd Follies they are satisfy'd. 1750 Carte Hist. Eng. II. 337 Edward's..fond opinion of his own capacity. 1842 Abdy Water Cure (1843) 212 A practice which..holds out a hope of giving an enduring reality to his fondest wishes. 1871 Macduff Mem. Patmos ix. 112 To defraud His servant of his fond expectation. 1872 Ruskin Eagle's Nest §121 Children..Bred..by their parents, in the fond poverty of learning. |
6. Const. of (formerly † on): Having strong affection or liking for (a person or thing, a pursuit, etc.).
| 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. ii. i. 266 He may proue More fond on her, then she vpon her loue. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 231 The she Apes..are wonderous fond of their little ones. 1615 Latham Falconry (1633) 32 Many Hawks..grow fond on them or him that doe..bring them vp. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. ii. (1845) 175 So fond of the Sun. 1754 Richardson Grandison I. xii. 68, I am fond of talking to this young Lady. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 294 They feed upon all sorts of grain, but are fondest of millet-seed. 1801 Strutt Sports & Past. i. i. 4 ædgar..was extremely fond of the sports of the field. 1833 H. Martineau Berkeley the Banker i. ix. 169 Lewis has made his uncle and aunt very fond of him already. |
† b. With of: Possessed with admiration for, proud of. Obs.
| 1702 Rowe Tamerl. Ded., There is no part in your Lordship's Character but what the World would be fond of. 1754 Richardson Grandison I. i. 3 He is a vain creature you know, and seemed fond of what he had written. |
† 7. Eager for (some object), desirous of, or strongly inclined to (an action). Const. of. Obs.
| 1552 Huloet, Fonde or desierous. 1594 Shakes. Lucr. 134 Those that much couet are with gaine so fond. 1666 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. liv. 191 The redemption of the chimney money at eight years purchase we are very fond of. 1689 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 604 Many persons have blamed duke Schonberg for not fighting the Irish army, which our men seem'd so fond of. 1719 De Foe Crusoe (1840) I. xx, They would be fond of buying it. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. 16 The man was not fond of marrying at all. 1760 Goldsm. Cit. W. cxi, People are naturally fond of going to paradise at as small expense as possible. 1772 Foote Nabob iii. (1778) 63, I fancy he will not be very fond of prolonging his visit. 1779 Burke Corr. (1844) II. 256 Sentiments which no being in human form could..be fond of owning. |
b. With to and inf. (rarely with that): Having a liking, eager, glad to (do something). Now rare.
All the examples in 19th c. and nearly all those in late 18th c. are from Scottish writers.
| 1546 J. Heywood Prov. (1867) 3 Both these, for loue to wed with me fond are. 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1582/2, I find no great cause I should be fond to liue. 1695 Blackmore Pr. Arth. i. 738 They all seem fond to wear the Martyr's Crown. 1734 Watts Reliq. Juv. (1789) 106 We are so fond to appear always in the right. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) V. 376 Nor could I be fond that they should see you. 1766 Goldsm. Double Transform. 53 Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy Of powdered coxcombs at her levy. 1769 Robertson Chas. V, VI. vi. 59 They are fond to interpret it as an omen of the bloody war that followed. 1826 Literary Souvenir 198 The bravest of the two is fond to whistle, that he may keep up the courage of his comrade. 1883 Blackie in 19th Cent. Apr. 607 ‘The year of Charlie’, as the Highlanders are fond to call it. |
8. Comb., as fond-blind, fond-conceited, fond-hardy, fond-like, fond-sparkling adjs.; fond plough = fool-plough: see fool n. 6.
| 1594 Barnfield Affect. Sheph. ii. xxiv. (Arb.) 16 Be thou *fond-blinde..Thou are my Loue. |
| 1590 Greene Orl. Fur. Wks. (Rtldg.) 109/1 Follower of *fond-conceited Phaeton. |
| 1659 Torriano, Corrivo..*fond-hardie. |
| 1632 Brome Northern Lass ii. ii, Mine Vncle and he fell on other talke, of Lords and Ladies, and many *fond-like things. 1889 Barrie Window in Thrums xix, But she saw 'at he laid it on the fire fell fond-like. |
| 1788 W. Marshall Yorksh. Gloss., *Fond-plufe. 1831 Howitt Seasons (1854) 43 The custom of the..Fond Plough. |
| 1786 Burns Yon wild mossy Mountains vi, But kindness..in the *fond-sparkling e'e, Has lustre outshining the diamond to me. |
† B. absol. and n. A foolish person, a fool.
| 1519 W. Horman Vulg. 19 It is vnlucky with fondis to do on the lyft sho first. 1575 Churchyard Chippes (1817) 45 The fond will read awhile, but cares for nought. |
▪ III. † fond, v. Obs.
Also 6 fonde.
[f. fond a.]
1. intr. To play the fool; to become foolish.
| ? 1530 Exam. W. Thorpe in Foxe A. & M. (1563) 164/2 And the clarke sayde. I fonded, and that I sayde not truthe. Ibid. Thou wouldest make vs to fonde with the. a 1541 Wyatt 7 Penit. Ps. Poet. Wks. (1861) 208 The sword shall pierce the heart of such that fonds. |
2. Const. on, over, upon. To entertain a fond or foolish affection for; to dote upon. Also simply, to display fondness.
| 1530 Palsgr. 553/2, I fonde, or dote upon a thyng for inordynate love. 1567 Turberv. Ovid's Epist. 154 Whilst thou..did fonde on Phyllis. 1590 T. Fenne Frutes i. 53 Immoderately fonding over wife, sonne, daughter. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. ii. ii. 35 My master loues her deerely, And I (poore monster) fond asmuch on him. |
3. trans. To make a fool of; to befool.
| 1540 R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instr. Chr. Wom. i. xvi. S i b, They dote and fonde [L. dementant] good yonge men. a 1547 Surrey æneid iv. 489 Did I not him..fonded [demens] eke invest Of halfe my realme? 1566 Drant Horace's Sat. iv. B viij, Love of goods, or love of rule doth fonde him now and then. 1567 ― Horace's Epist. i. C iij, Such follye fondes a man and fondly makes him roue. |
4. To show fondness for; to caress, fondle.
| 1676 Dryden Aurengz. iv. i, Howe'r unjust your jealousie appear..I'll fond it, as the froward Child of Love. 1697 ― æneid i. 962 The Tyrian hugs, and fonds thee on her breast. |
b. To beguile; also to beguile to (disaster).
| 1627–77 Feltham Resolves i. xxvi. 45 The Meretricious world claps our cheeks, and fonds us to a cozening fail. 1682 Southerne Loyal Brother 11, My poor heart Would fain be fonded with the hopes of rest. |
Hence ˈfonded ppl. a., (a) deluded, foolish; (b) fondly loved. ˈfonding vbl. n., fondness.
| 1566 Drant Horace's Sat. ii. B b, They, the sillye fonded fooles, Do feaste him. 1665 R. B. Comment on 2 Tales 99 Put on a smooth Brow, and feign a kind of Fonding. 1701 Steele Chr. Hero iii. 52 A brighter diadem than ever Fortune bestowed on the most fonded..of her favourites. |
▪ IV. fond
see fand v. Obs., to attempt, try, etc.
▪ V. fond
obs. pa. tense find: obs. form of found v.1