befriend

1. (transitive) To become a friend of, to make friends with.
2. (dated, transitive) To act as a friend to, to assist.
3. (transitive) To favor.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɪˈfɹɛnd/

Etymology

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: befrüündje

Cognate with Dutch: bevrienden

Cognate with German: befreunden

In summary

From be- + friend. Compare Saterland Frisian befrüündje (“to befriend”), Dutch bevrienden (“to befriend”), German Low German befründen (“to befriend”),
German befreunden (“to befriend”). Compare also West Frisian befreone (“befriended”).

Synonyms

assist

help

make friends

support

feign friendship

serve

pretend to be acquainted

aid

favour

favor

succor

friend

further

grace

help out

intimate

like

maintain

patronize

pity

predicate

promote

prop

relieve

second

2nd

shore

sponsor

stand by

stand up for

succour

sustain

sympathize

tame

trade

underpin

uphold

have compassion

treat kindly

be intimate with

love

❤️

play up to someone

back

🔙

be of assistance

agree

assert

back up

become friends

bolster

cherish

commiserate

Translations

ευνοώ

ofrecer amistad

صادق

faveo

copiner

dostça davranmak

προστατεύω

behilflich sein

sich anfreunden

βοηθώ

صاحب

freundlich sein

aufbrauchen

وادد

تواد