From OE 'frēond,' literally 'loving one' — the present participle of 'frēogan' (to love), from PIE *preyH- (to love).
A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, trust, and regard, outside of romantic or familial relations.
From Old English 'frēond,' the present participle of 'frēogan' (to love, to favor), from Proto-Germanic *frijōndz, the present participle of *frijōną (to love). This in turn derives from PIE *preyH- 'to be pleased, to love.' The word literally meant 'loving one' or 'one who loves.' The same PIE root produced 'free' (Proto-Germanic *frijaz, originally meaning 'dear, beloved,' then 'belonging to the loved ones,' then 'not enslaved'), Sanskrit 'priyá-' (dear, beloved), and the name of the Norse goddess Frigg (the beloved one).
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