fond

fond adj 1 Fond, infatuated, besotted, insensate are comparable when they mean made blindly or stupidly foolish (as by passion or drink).

Fond implies a judgment misled by credulity, undue optimism, or excessive affection

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Cowper's characterization of the Biographia Britannica: "Oh, fond attempt to give a deathless lot to names ignoble, born to be forgot!"

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grant I may never prove so fond, to trust man on his oath or bond— Shak.

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how are we to rid ourselves of our fond prejudices and open our minds?— James Ford

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Infatuated implies a weakening rather than the absence of judgment, especially under the influence of violent passion or unreasoning emotion; it is therefore correctly applied to the acts or qualities of men from whom sagacity or self-control might have been expected

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what the infatuated ministry may do, I know not; but our infatuated House of Commons . . . have begun a new war in America— Burke

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your people are so shortsighted, so jealous and selfish, and so curiously infatuated with things that are not . . . good— Jefferies

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Besotted adds to infatuated the implications of a stupefying or intoxicating influence that destroys the capacity to think clearly and sometimes makes its victim disgusting or repulsive

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men besotted by drink

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are these so far besotted that they fail to see this fair wife-worship cloaks a secret shame?— Tennyson

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seemed absolutely besotted about the damned woman— Christie

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Insensate conveys the idea of feeling and judgment lost under the influence of such passions as hatred, desire for revenge, rage, or greed; the term is also applicable to the passion

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insensate rage

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the insensate mob uttered a cry of triumph— Shelley

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his insensate wrath seemed to pass all ordinary bounds— S. S. Van Dine

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insensate hatred for the broken man in the White House— S. H. Adams}}

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Analogous words: foolish, silly, fatuous, asinine, *simple: *stupid, dumb

2 devoted, affectionate, *loving, doting

Analogous words: *enamored, infatuated: *tender, sympathetic, warm, responsive: ardent, passionate, impassioned

Contrasted words: *indifferent, unconcerned, aloof