fond

¹ American  

[fond] / fɒnd /

adjective

fonder, fondest

1. having a liking or affection for (usually followed byof ).

   to be fond of animals.

2. loving; affectionate.

   to give someone a fond look.

3. excessively tender or overindulgent; doting.

   a fond parent.

4. cherished with strong or unreasoning feeling.

   to nourish fond hopes of becoming president.

5. Archaic. foolish or silly.

6. Archaic. foolishly credulous or trusting.

   Synonyms:

   gullible

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fond ² American  

[fond, fawn] / fɒnd, fɔ̃ /

noun

plural

fonds

1. a background or groundwork, especially of lace.

2. Obsolete. fund; stock.

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fond ¹ British  

/ fɒnd /

adjective

1. predisposed (to); having a liking (for)

2. loving; tender

   a fond embrace

3. indulgent; doting

   a fond mother

4. (of hopes, wishes, etc) cherished but unlikely to be realized

   he had fond hopes of starting his own business

5. archaic

   1. foolish

   2. credulous

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fond ² British  

/ fɔ̃, fɒnd /

noun

1. the background of a design, as in lace

2. obsolete fund; stock

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Other Word Forms

• fondly adverb
• fondness noun

Etymology

Origin of fond¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fond, fonned “foolish, silly” (past participle of fonnen “to be foolish”

Origin of fond²

First recorded in 1655–65; from French; fund

Example Sentences

Recalling fond memories of hit albums and runaway successes, she pauses and laments, looking off into the distance.

From Salon

They vanquish carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, a gas of which I am very fond.

From The Wall Street Journal

When the boy arrived back at work Monday morning, Shady Glen truly resembled the scene of one of those zombie-apocalypse movies he was so fond of.

From Literature

But I’m especially fond of using the punch bowl as a way to elevate a non-alcoholic drink into something that feels genuinely celebratory.

From Salon

While serving in California as a Border Patrol sector chief along the southern border, Bovino was fond of posting pictures of himself on horseback and heavily armed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• affectionate
• enamored
• indulgent
• sentimental
• sympathetic