Re: Befriend

Athel wrote on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:37:35 +0200:

On Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:30:07 +0100, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)"
<mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:26:31 +0100, Ian Jackson
<ianREMOVETHISjackson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In message <grvtvq$rp6$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, James
Silverton <not.jim.silverton@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes
Hello All!

Have people noticed the currently common newspaper use of "befriend" to simply mean make or become friends with?

The OED listed meanings are

1. trans. To act as a friend to, to help, favour; to
assist, promote, further. 2. spec. of a Samaritan (sense
c): to (set out to) give the companionship and support of a friend to (a client), esp. in a lay capacity; also
absol. and transf. in other areas of social work.

It's normal BrE to me. In fact, that's the normal meaning -
"to make/become friends with".

Interesting.

Maybe I've not been paying attention. To me it still has the
OED meanings, particularly 2.

I (BrE also) agree with Peter. I'd say that it's used here
almost exclusively with the OED 2 meaning.

Yes, the reason I asked the question is that "befriend" has the sense of inequality or condescension to me.



--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Befriend
    ... "befriend" to simply mean make or become friends with? ... "to make/become friends with". ... OED meanings, particularly 2. ... there is condescension involved it is not true charitable befriending, ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Befriend
    ... "befriend" to simply mean make or become friends with? ... "to make/become friends with". ... OED meanings, particularly 2. ... there is condescension involved it is not true charitable befriending, ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Befriend
    ... Have people noticed the currently common newspaper use of "befriend" to ... The OED listed meanings are ... make/become friends with". ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: term for similarly-spelled words
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