Forms: 1 ʓecynde (? cynde), 3 i-cunde, kunde, 3–4 cunde, kuynde; 4–5 kende, 5 keend; 3–6 kynde, 3–7 kinde, 4–6 kynd, 3– kind. [OE. ʓecynde (:—OTeut. *gakundjo-z), f. *gakundi-, ʓecynd nature, KIND sb.]
I. Natural, native.
† 1. Of things, qualities, etc.: Natural, in various senses. Obs. a. That is, or exists, in accordance with nature or the usual course of things; = KINDLY a. 1 a.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 10. Þone deað þe eallum monnum is ʓecynde to þolianne.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 78. His firme kinde dei … Of foure and twenti time riȝt; Ðes frenkis men … It nemnen ‘un iur natural.’
c. 1290. St. Michael, 563, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 315. Bi-tweone somer and wynter … þanne is þe þondre kuynde Inov.
c. 1320. Sir Beues (MS. A), 3662. Kende hit is, wimman te be Schamfaste and ful of corteisie.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 10610. Of hym more men fynde In farre bokes, als ys kynde, Þan we haue in þys lond.
1579. Gosson, Ephem. Phialo. It is but kinde for a Cockes heade to breede a Combe.
† b. Implanted by nature; innate; inherent; = KINDLY a. 1 b. Const. to, for, or dat. Obs.
Beowulf, 2696. Ellen cyðan, cræft and cenðu, swa him ʓecynde wæs.
c. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 2771 (Gr.). Swa him cynde wæron.
c. 1200. Ormin, 8336. Herode king,… wass ifell mann inoh, & well it wass himm kinde.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 127. ‘Yit haue I no kuynde knowing’ quod I, ‘þou most teche me betere.’
c. 1430. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 198. And how kinde and propir it is to þee,… On hem to haue mercy and pitee.
1522. World & Child, in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 245. All recklessness is kind for thee.
† c. Naturally pertaining to, or associated with, a person or thing; proper, appropriate, fitting; = KINDLY a. 1 c. In later use const. for. Obs.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., xiii. 63. Oð his eft cymeð þær hire yfemesð bið eard ʓecynde.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5900. Þat child … dude is kunde fulþhede.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9380. Til alkin thing he gafe, Þair kinde scrud al for to haue.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 768 (740). How sholde a plaunte or lyues creature, Lyue with-oute his kynde noriture?
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, Prol. 70. A Romayn … That Cornelius was cald to his kynde name.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), X ij. No honest women … but such as be shamelesse, and worthy of kind rebuke.
1663. J. Beal, Lett., in Boyle’s Wks. (1772), VI. 357. What hay is kindest for sheep.
1694. Westmacott, Script. Herb., 9. Cyder is a kind vehicle and proper menstruum for medical matters.
† 2. a. Belonging to one by right of birth, descent or inheritance; lawful, rightful; = KINDLY a. 2. Obs.
a. 1000. Daniel, 3. ʓefræʓn ic Hebreos … cyningdom habban, swa him ʓecynde wæs.
c. 1205. Lay., 18158. Nim þu þene kine-helm; he is þe icunde.
c. 1320. Sir Beues (MS. A), 2940. Ȝif ich miȝte wiþ eni ginne Me kende eritage to winne.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 1055. And tak the croun; till ws it war kyndar, To bruk for ay, or fals Eduuard it war.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xiii. 130. Ȝe … Baneist his Gudschir from his kynde heritage.
† b. Native (country or language). Obs.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1279. [It] was noȝt is kinde lond.
13[?]. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7544 (MS. β). In þe world ne is … countrey none Þat he ne holdeþ his kynde speche, bote engelond now one.
c. 1440. Eng. Conq. Irel., 7. Man thynkyth no Place so Myrry lyghtly as in his Kynd Place.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, V. xiii. 82. As thi kind ground and cuntre naturale.
† 3. Of persons. Obs. a. Lawful, rightful (lord, heir, tenant, etc.). Cf. KINDLY a. 3.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., i. 6. Gotan … hæfdan him ʓecynde cyningas tweʓen.
a. 1100. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1014. Him nan leofre hlaford nære þonne heora ʓecynde hlaford.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6429. Þe kunde eirs to bitraye.
c. 1320. Sir Beues (MS. A), 1398. Ariseþ vp … And wolcomeþ ȝour kende lord.
c. 1440. Bone Flor., 1259. And crowne Mylys my brodur … For kyndyst heyre ys hee.
† b. Native; = KINDLY a. 3 b. Also with to. rare. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 851. Many kundemen of þis lond Mid king Leir hulde also. Ibid., 937. þe kunde volc of þe lond adde to hom onde.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 448. Thai war kynde to the cuntre.
† c. Having a specified character by nature, or a specified status by birth; by birth, natural, born.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 241. A kowherde, sire, of þis kontrey is my kynde fader. Ibid., 513. Þouȝh he were komen of no ken, but of kende cherls.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, V. v. Suche supposeth to be moche wyse whiche is a kynd and a very foole.
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 63. I thought no lesse … that you would proue such a kinde kistrell.
† d. Related by kinship; of kin (to); one’s own (people). Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8240. Þe sarazins … wende toward antioche, to helpe hor kunde blod.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, I. vi. (Skeat), l. 49. How turned the Romaine Zeodories fro the Romaines, to be with Haniball ayenst his kind nacion.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1874), I. 285. Than shall he rewarde them in heven right gloriously So mayst thou be callyd unto thy maker kynde.
II. Of good birth, kind, nature or disposition.
(Sense 4 forms the link between I and II. Cf. L. generōsus.)
4. † a. Well-born, well-bred, of generous or gentle birth, gentle (obs.). b. Of a good kind; hence, good of its kind, having the natural (good) qualities well developed. Now only dial. Cf. KINDLY a. 4.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1451. Ysaac he let al his god, For he was bigeten of kinde blod.
c. 1300. St. Margarete, 3. Ibore heo was in Antioche, icome of cunde blod.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. III. 29. Ne on croked kene þorne kynde fygys wexe.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2459. Þai crosse ouir toward þe kyng, as kyndmen [Dubl. MS. kene men] suld.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 58. The kindest Mastife, when he is clapped on the back, fighteth best.
a. 1656. Hales, Gold. Rem. (1688), 218. As Men graff Apples and kind fruits upon Thorns.
1756. P. Browne, Jamaica, 136. It is a hardy and kind pasturage.
1890. Gloucester Gloss., Kind, healthy, likely, in perfection, thriving. A kind barley is one that malts well.
1897. S. C. Scrivener, Our Fields & Cities, 143. The cultivation so far having been perfect, the barley crop will be ‘kind.’
5. Of persons: Naturally well-disposed; having a gentle, sympathetic or benevolent nature; ready to assist, or show consideration for, others; † generous, liberal, courteous (obs.). Also of disposition. (This [with c and d] is now the main sense.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20033. Sua kind … ar þou Þat þou nu will mi wil a-lou.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 796. How gentil and how kynde Ye semed, by youre speche, and youre visage.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 240. An olde knyght … That curtes was and kynde.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 19. We thank our God baith kynde and liberall.
1610. Shaks., Temp., III. iii. 20. Giue vs kind keepers, heauens.
1681. Dryden, Span. Friar, Prol. 1. Now, luck for us, and a kind hearty pit.
1732. Pope, Ep. Cobham, I. 110. Who does a kindness, is not therefore kind.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 251. Some mansion … By some kind, hospitable heart possessed.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 424. We have … become, not only a wiser, but also a kinder people.
fig. 1576. Gascoigne, Philomene (Arb.), 93. Could no kinde coale, nor pitties sparke Within thy brest be plaste.
1634. Milton, Comus, 187. Such cooling fruit As the kind hospitable Woods provide.
1676. Dryden, Aurengz., III. i. 1502. Your kinder Stars a Nobler Choice have giv’n.
1704. Pope, Windsor For., 53. In vain kind seasons swell’d the teeming grain.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, i. Night is kinder in this respect than day.
† b. Well or favorably disposed to; bearing good will to. Obs.
1664. Charles II., in Julia Cartwright, Henrietta of Orleans (1894), 175. The Comte de Gramont will give you this, and he will tell you how kind I am to you.
1666. Sir J. Talbot, Lett., in Slingsby’s Diary (1836), 369. I hope you are not soe little kind to mee as to censure this freedome I use.
1680–90. Temple, Ess., Ireland, Wks. 1731, I. 125. It is … little to be hoped, that a Breach with Spain should make us any kinder to the War than we were.
c. Exhibiting a friendly or benevolent disposition by one’s conduct to a person or animal. Also fig.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 90. Ha wole be the so kende, He wole be fo to thyne fon, And frend to thyne frende.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 243. Þat is, iche cristene man be kynde to oþer, And siþen hem to helpe.
1507[?]. Communyc. (W. de W.), B iij. Euer the kynder to me thou arte The more unkynder I am agayne.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. i. 167. Be kinde and curteous to this Gentleman. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., III. ii. 40. The Elements be kind to thee.
1707. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Anne Wortley, 2 May. I hope you intend to be kinder to me this summer than you were the last.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., III. 842. Kind to the poor, and ah! most kind to me.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge (1849), 96/1. ‘You had as good be kinder to me’ … said Hugh.
Mod. They were exceedingly kind; they insisted upon our staying till our clothes were dry.
d. Of action, language, etc.: Arising from or displaying a kind disposition.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 2155. Myche comforth he caght of þaire kynd speche.
1551. Crowley, Pleas. & Pain, 27. You … gaue me wordis curteyse and kynde.
1670. Earl Anglesey, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 15. My sonne is at Newmarket attending the King, or else would acknowledge your Ladyship’s kind mention of him.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Milton, Wks. II. 134. Paradise Lost broke into open view with sufficient security of kind reception.
1846. Tennyson, in Mem. (1897), 239. Your kind letter gave me very sincere pleasure.
6. Of persons, their actions, etc.: Affectionate, loving, fond; on intimate terms. Also euphemistically. Now rare exc. dial.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 724. Þine sostren ssolleþ abbe al, vor hor herte is so kunde, & þou ssalt vor þin vnkundhede be out of al min munde.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3474. Wiþ clipping & kessing & alle kinde dedus.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 4 b. If they had ben kynde & louynge to god.
1594. Constable, Diana, VIII. i. Women are kind by kind, but coy by fashion.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 110. The next Moon their Women flock to the Sacred Wells; where, they say, it is not difficult to persuade them to be kind.
1704. Pope, Autumn, 52. Do lovers dream, or is my Delia kind? Ibid. (1735), Ep. Lady, 94. A Spark too fickle, or a Spouse too kind.
1825. Brockett, Kind, intimate—not kind, at enmity.
1870. Tennyson, Window, 184. Stiles where we stay’d to be kind, Meadows in which we met.
† 7. Acceptable, agreeable, pleasant, winsome; = KINDLY a. 6. Obs.
In early use transl. L. grātus, which in med.L. had the sense of ‘gentle, kind’ as well as its correct sense of ‘pleasing.’ In later use passing into fig. use of 5, 5 d.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 6509 (Trin.). Þis moyses was dere & kynde To god.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xcvii. (Tollem. MS.). This flexe is nouȝt moste stronge, but … þerof is kynde [L. gratissimæ] vestimentes made for prestes.
1703. Rowe, Ulyss., I. i. 98. I have the kindest Sounds to bless your Ear with.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), I. 15. Though at a kinder distance.
8. Grateful, thankful. Obs. exc. dial.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, II. x. 54. Be kynde þerfore for a litel þinge, & þou shalt be worþi to take gretter.
1530. Palsgr., 316/2. Kynde that remembreth a good torne, grat.
1563. Homilies, II. Time of Prayer, I. (1859), 339. He should declare himself thankful and kind, for all those benefits.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., V. iv. Sob. Why doe you not thanke her Grace? Dap. I cannot speake, for joy. Sob. See, the kind wretch!
1877. N. W. Linc. Gloss., s.v., I’m very kind to Mrs. … ’cause she sent me them coals i’ th’ winter.
9. dial. or techn. Soft, tender; easy to work.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., U ij b. We drive at the Vein Head in the first Place, because there it is likely that the Vein may be the most Kind or Leppey.
1828. Craven Dial., Kind, Soft. ‘As kind as a glove.’ ‘Kind-harled,’ soft haired.
1831. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, I. 243. To distinguish between hard and kind steel, that is, between steel that has been more or less carbonated.
1848. Keary, in Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., IX. II. 429. Breeders … are now fully alive to the importance of kind hair and good flesh in a feeding beast.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal Mining, 147. Kind generally signifies tender, soft, or easy to work.
III. 10. As adv. = KINDLY. (Here perh. belongs the phr. to take it kind.) Now colloq. or vulgar.
1607. Shaks., Timon, I. ii. 225. I take all, and your seuerall visitations So kinde to heart.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. i. Ye … wha have sae kind Redd up my ravel’d doubts.
1750. H. Walpole, Lett. (1845), II. 354. He took it mighty kind.
1781. Johnson, 3 June, in Boswell. Tell him, if he’ll call on me … I shall take it kind.
1800. Mrs. Hervey, Mourtray Fam., III. 102. All this would be mighty well … if Lady C. behaved kind and tenderly to you.
1849. Dickens, Dav. Copp., xlii. ‘How kind he puts it!’ said Uriah.
IV. 11. Comb., as kind-minded, -tempered, -thoughted, -witted; kind-contending; kind-cruel.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 109. Namore kan a kynde witted man … Come for al his kynde witte to crystendome and be saued.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. vi. 48. Pierc’t with glance of a kinde-cruell eye.
1727–46. Thomson, Summer, 39. The kind-temper’d change of night and day. Ibid. (1728–46), Spring, 596. The thrush And woodlark o’er the kind-contending throng Superior heard.
1858. Faber, Spir. Confer. (1870), 25. The kind-thoughted man has no … self-importance to push.
