n. [ OE. frend, freond, AS. freónd, prop. p. pr. of freón, freógan, to love; akin to D. vriend friend, OS. friund friend, friohan to love, OHG. friunt friend, G. freund, Icel. frændi kinsman, Sw. frände. Goth. frijōnds friend, frijōn to love. √83. See Free, and cf. Fiend. ] 1. One who entertains for another such sentiments of esteem, respect, and affection that he seeks his society and welfare; a wellwisher; an intimate associate; sometimes, an attendant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Want gives to know the flatterer from the friend. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov. xviii. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One not inimical or hostile; one not a foe or enemy; also, one of the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly feelings may be assumed. The word is some times used as a term of friendly address. [ 1913 Webster ]

Friend, how camest thou in hither? Matt. xxii. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who looks propitiously on a cause, an institution, a project, and the like; a favorer; a promoter; as, a friend to commerce, to poetry, to an institution. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. One of a religious sect characterized by disuse of outward rites and an ordained ministry, by simplicity of dress and speech, and esp. by opposition to war and a desire to live at peace with all men. They are popularly called Quakers. [ 1913 Webster ]

America was first visited by Friends in 1656. T. Chase. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A paramour of either sex. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A friend at court or
A friend in court, one disposed to act as a friend in a place of special opportunity or influence. --
To be friends with, to have friendly relations with. “He's . . . friends with Cæsar.” Shak. --
To make friends with, to become reconciled to or on friendly terms with. “Having now made friends with the Athenians.” Jowett (Thucyd.). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Friended; p. pr. & vb. n. Friending. ] To act as the friend of; to favor; to countenance; to befriend. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Fortune friends the bold. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having friends; [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Inclined to love; well-disposed. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Friendliness. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. freóndleás. ] Destitute of friends; forsaken. -- Friend"less*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

adv. In a friendly manner. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The condition or quality of being friendly. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. freéndlīce. ] 1. Having the temper and disposition of a friend; disposed to promote the good of another; kind; favorable. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Appropriate to, or implying, friendship; befitting friends; amicable. [ 1913 Webster ]

In friendly relations with his moderate opponents. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not hostile; as, a friendly power or state. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Promoting the good of any person; favorable; propitious; serviceable; as, a friendly breeze or gale. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the first friendly bank he throws him down. Addison.

Syn. -- Amicable; kind; conciliatory; propitious; favorable. See Amicable. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of friends; amicably; like friends. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In whom all graces that can perfect beauty
Are friendly met. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A friendly person; -- usually applied to natives friendly to foreign settlers or invaders.

These were speedily routed by the friendlies, who attacked the small force before them in fine style. E. N. Bennett. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Mil.) A member of one's own military forces, or of allied forces. [ PJC ]