friend

friend, acquaintance, intimate, confidant are comparable when they designate a person, especially not related by blood, with whom one is on good and, usually, familiar terms.

Friend, in its application, ranges from a person who is not hostile or is a well-wisher to a person whose society one seeks or accepts with pleasure because of liking, respect, or affection.

Acquaintance is applied to a person with whom one is on speaking terms. However, when these words are used in contrast, both imply a degree of familiarity, friend distinctively connoting close bonds of love and affection and acquaintance, comparative infrequency of contact and less close personal interest

{

you understand that I am not their friend. I am only a holiday acquaintance— Conrad

}

{

a companion loves some agreeable qualities which a man may possess, but a friend loves the man himself— Boswell

}

This distinction is not invariably observed, especially when acquaintance is used as a collective plural

{

he has a wide circle of friends ; he has a large acquaintance

}

{

he never speaks much, unless among his intimate acquaintance— Austen

}

Intimate adds to friend the implications of a depth of affection and a closeness of association that tend to preclude reserve

{

only his intimates were aware of his plans

}

Confidant usually designates that intimate who actually is entrusted with one's secrets or is admitted to confidential discussions.

Analogous words: comrade, companion, crony, *associate: ally, colleague, *partner

Antonyms: foe

Contrasted words: Onemy: antagonist, Opponent, adversary: rival, competitor (see corresponding verbs at RIVAL)