friends noun [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.

Want gives to know the flatterer from the friend. Dryden.

A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov. xviii. 24.

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.

Friend, how camest thou in hither? Matt. xxii. 12.

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. 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.

America was first visited by Friends in 1656. T. Chase.

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

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.).

Friend transitive verb [imperfect or past participle Friended; present participle or verbal noun Friending.] To act as the friend of; to favor; to countenance; to befriend. [Obs.]

Fortune friends the bold. Spenser.