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fond adj. (the mod. sense ‘having a strong affection or liking for’ is first recorded from S., who construes it with “of” Wint. I. ii. 164, John III. iv. 92, 98, Oth. V. ii. 155, and “on” MND. II. i. 266, Sonn. lxxxiv. 14; a contemporary sense, ‘foolishly affectionate, doting’, is doubtfully represented)
1. infatuated, foolish, silly (the commonest sense in S. and in the Eliz. period, since when the literary use has been narrowed to that of ‘foolishly credulous or sanguine’).
2. trifling, trivial Meas. II. ii. 149 “ sicles,” Ham. I. v. 99 “trivial fond records.”
3. eager (for), desirous (of): construed with “of” Cor. V. iii. 162, Cym. I. i. 37 “Then old and of issue” ; with “with” Lucr. 134; with infinitive AYL. II. iii. 7.
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hide References (8 total)
  • Cross-references in text-specific dictionaries from this page (8):
    • William Shakespeare, Coriolanus, 5.3
    • William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, 1.5
    • William Shakespeare, King John, 3.4
    • William Shakespeare, As You Like It, 2.3
    • William Shakespeare, Cymbeline, 1.1
    • William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, 2.1
    • William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece
    • William Shakespeare, Sonnets, lxxxiv
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