Fond a. and sb.²

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 savor; insipid; sickly flavored. Obs. exc. dial.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 57. Ȝif þe salt be fonnyd it is not worþi. Ibid. (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 hur self, ne 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. Secundus Tortor. Go we now to oure noyte withe 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, and the olde knoweth the young man to be a foole.

1650.  Fuller, A Pisgah-sight of Palestine, II. xii. 250. Some of them escaped to the City, and there might instruct their mothers and nurses, never more to fright children with fond tales of Bug-bears, but seriously to informe them of the truth of this sorrowfull accident.

1681.  Glanvill, Sadducismus, Ded. Though I am not fond enough to phancy any Art or Ornament in the composure to recommend it; yet, I know, the Essay is seasonable, and contains things which relate to our biggest Interests.

a. 1703.  Burkitt, On N. T., Heb. xi. 22. To dig Men’s Bones out of their Graves to enshrine them, and place them upon Altars, to carry them in Procession, to adore them, to ascribe miraculous Operations to them, casting out of Devils, and the like, is fond and ridiculous.

a. 1748.  Watts, Improv. Mind, II. iii. § 8. I am not so fond as to think I have placed the subject in such lights as to throw you on a sudden into a new track of thinking.

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. It ever remains doubtful whether he is laughing in his sleeve at these Autobiographical times of ours, or 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. The Voluntary controversy united Evangelistic Dissent and Roman Catholicism by the bonds of a common cause,—at least Evangelistic Dissent was fond enough to believe the cause a common one, and learned to speak with respect and regard of ‘Roman Catholic brethren.’

1855.  Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Fond, foolish, weakminded. ‘As fond as a horn,’ the horn answering to every one’s tuning, reasonless.

quasi-adv.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well that ends Well, I. iii. 74.

  3.  In stronger sense: Idiotic, imbecile, mad; also, dazed. † With to: Mad for. Obs. exc. dial.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 6182.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 137/1. Fonde, arepticius, astrosus.

1640.  Durh. Vestry Bks. (Surtees), 303. For puttinge fond Allye’s child to nursinge … 1s. 4d.

1781.  J. Hutton, Tour to Caves, Gloss., Fond, silly, stupid like an ideot.

1876.  C. C. Robinson, Mid-Yorksh. Gloss., Fond.… Silly. ‘I ’d a dizziness in my head, that turned me fair (quite) fond.’

  † 4.  Of things: Valued only by fools, trifling, trivial. Obs.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., II. ii. 149.

1645.  Ussher, Body Div. (1647), 239. Superstitious or Idolatrous Oathes, when we sweare by an Idoll, or by Gods creatures … as by the masse, our Lady, bread, salt, fire, and many fond trashes, whereas God never appointed the creatures for such uses.

  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. Stiffenesse in opinion without judgement, and fond affection without moderation, breed no sound resolution, neither in, nor for the truth.

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. At that critical period arose Sir William Wallace, a hero to whom the fond admiration of his countrymen hath ascribed many fabulous acts of prowess, though his real valour, as well as integrity and wisdom, are such as need not the heightenings of fiction.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., xxii. I called up the many fond things I had to say, and anticipated the welcome I was to receive.

1816.  J. Wilson, City of Plague, I. iii. 59.

1854.  Mrs. Oliphant, Magd. Hepburn, III. xx. 285. I thought not you would hold such apparel meet for a shepherd’s housewife—but 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, trans. Boileau’s Art of Poetry, IV. 63.

1750.  Carte, Hist. Eng., II. 337–8. Edward’s enterprizing genius and fond opinion of his own capacity and military skill, made him look upon the conquest of Ireland, as a work of little difficulty.

1842.  Abdy, Water Cure (1843), 212. A practice which accords with his most cherished opinions, and holds out a hope of giving an enduring reality to his fondest wishes.

1871.  Macduff, Mem. Patmos, ix. 112. Is He, whose name was ‘Faithful and True,’ to belie His own promise and to defraud His servant of his fond expectation?

1872.  Ruskin, Eagle’s N., § 121. Bred, it might be, 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.  Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 265.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 231 The she Apes of all sorts are wonderous fond of their little ones.

1615.  Latham, Falconry (1633), 32. Many Hawks of the same kind, are taken out of the nest very yong, whereby they do altogether forget their naturall dam that bred them, and betake themselues to loue, and grow fond on them or him that doe foster or bring them vp.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. ii. (1845), 175. And whereas other Birds that fly not half so high, nor seem any thing near so fond of the Sun, do yet build their Nests upon Trees, the Lark does as well build hers upon the Ground, as look like a part of it.

1754.  Richardson, Grandison I. xii. 67. I am fond of talking to this young Lady: And a conversation upon this topic may tend as much to edification, perhaps, as most of the subjects with which we have been hitherto entertained.

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, who, like his predecessor, was extremely fond of the sports of the field.

1833.  Ht. 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.  Shaks., Lucr., 134.

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. 363. He believed they would be fond of buying it; he did not doubt, but I should make four or five thousand pieces of eight the more of it.

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1811), I. 16. That the man was not fond of marrying at all: that he might perhaps have half a score mistresses: and that delay might be as convenient for his roving, as for my well-acted indifference.

1760.  Goldsm., Cit. World, cxi. Their shops are much frequented, and their customers every day increasing; for 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. It contains sentiments which no being in the human form could, on reflection, 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.

1587.  Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1582/2. I find no great cause I should be fond to liue.

1695.  Blackmore, Prince Arthur, I. 738.

1734.  Watts, Reliquiæ Juveniles, 138. We are so fond to appear always in the right, that I find myself to need a good degree of Self-Denial, in order to believe that Truth is Truth, when I have happened to fall into a different Sentiment; and what is this but Pride of Heart?

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1811), V. 376. Nor could I be fond that they should see you.

1766.  Goldsm., Double Transform., 53.

1769.  W. Robertson, Chas. V., II. VI. 391. It being found necessary to remove the ruins of an ancient temple of peace, in order to widen one of the streets, through which the calvacade had to pass, all the historians take notice of this trivial circumstance, which they are fond to interpret 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, The Highland Crofters, in 19th Cent., XIII. April, 607. We start from the year 1745, ‘the year of Charlie,’ as the Highlanders are fond to call it.

  8.  Comb., as fond-blind, -conceited, -hardy, -like, -sparkling, adjs.; fond plough = fool-plough: see FOOL sb. 6.

1594.  Barnfield, Affect. Sheph., II. xxiv. (Arb.), 16.

1590.  Greene, Orl. Fur., Wks. (Rtldg.), 109/1.

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. It is plain from the custom of the Stot Plough, White Plough, or Fond Plough, i.e. Fool Plough, that the days of merry-making are not yet over.

1786.  Burns, Yon wild mossy Mountains, vi.

  † B.  absol. and sb. A foolish person, a fool.

1519.  Horman, Vulg., 19. It is vnlucky with fondis to do on the lyft sho first.

1575.  Churchyard, Chippes (1817), 45.