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kind
Like; related; and therefore "bearing good will to" (OED). An interesting
word. A Middle-English noble would be described as "comen of kind," of
"good" family, of noble stock; kind and king are akin, since
a king was "the head of a 'kin,' or tribe" (Ernest Weekley, An Etymological
Dictionary of Modern English).
Kind derives from the Old English Cynn, our Kin,
meaning kind, sort, family, race, people, and also becoming,
proper, suitable; and cynd, origin, species, nature. Cynewise
is commonwealth; cynebeald is royally bold; cyndnes
is nation, produce, increase; cyning is king, ruler; cyndlim
is womb; cynlic is fitting, proper, sufficient; cynnig is
noble, of good family; cyndren is kindred, family, posterity,
kind, species. Kith (cydd) is kinship, friendship, acquaintance,
familiarity, knowledge of, and so on (J.R. Clark Hall, A Concise
Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, Cambridge University Press, 1960).
The word kind seems to expand outward from family(with a
side trip, by way of an "important family," to the nobility) to enlarging
metaphors of likeness: country, race, species. Kindness, then,
implies relationship--family--of some acknowledged type. The Oxford
English Dictionary seems to confirm this movement from "of a family"
to "ready to assist, or show consideration for, others." Its many senses
of kind- and cynn-related words include:
Kin
Family, race, blood-relations. A group of persons descended from a common
ancestor, and so connected by blood-relationship; a family, stock, clan;
in Old English, also people, nation, tribe. The group of persons formed
by each stage of descent in a family or clan; a generation. The group
of persons who are related to one; one's kindred, kinsfolk, or relatives,
collectively. The quality, condition, or fact of being related by birth
or descent; kinship, relationship, consanguinity. A large natural group
or division of animals or plants, having presumably a common ancestry;
the race (of men, fishes, etc.). A class (of persons, animals, or things)
having common attributes; a species, sort, kind. Of kin = akin:
Related by blood-ties. Also, Related in character or qualities. Near
of kin, closely related.Next of kin, most closely related;
chiefly the person (or persons) standing in the nearest degree of blood-relationship
to another, and entitled to share in his personal estate in case of
intestacy.
Kinboot
A wergeld or man-boot paid by a homicide to the kin of the person
slain. (Not the same as the Old English cynebot or royal compensation.)
Kind
Birth, origin, descent. The station, place, or property belonging to
one by birth; one's native place or position; that to which one has
a natural right; birthright, heritage. That which naturally belongs
to or befits one. The character or quality derived from birth or native
constitution; natural disposition, nature. Natural state, form, or condition.
A natural quality, property or characteristic. The manner or way natural
or proper to any one; hence, mode of action; manner, way, fashion. A
class, group, or division of things. A race, or natural group of animals
or plants having a common origin. A class of individuals or objects
distinguished by attributes possessed in common; a genus or species;
also, in vaguer sense: A sort, variety, or description. (Latin genus.)
In kind, In the very kind of article or commodity in question;
usually of payment: In goods or natural produce, as opposed to money.
A
bell sounded somewhere: from another direction now. Quite nearby, cold
resonant iron swung gently, gently, to rest atop a tower in the dark.
Snow on the lawn shone briefly as a light in the next house was switched
on; off. An apple on a table across the room reflected some of the window's
doings on its dull peel, its squarish bruise. The window reflected it.
Of
repayment: In something of the same kind as that received. Natural,
native. Implanted by nature; innate; inherent. Naturally pertaining
to, or associated with, a person or thing; proper, appropriate, fitting.
Belonging to one by right of birth, descent, or inheritance; lawful,
rightful. Related by kinship. Of good birth, kind, nature or disposition.
Well-born, well-bred, of generous or gentle birth, gentle. Of a good
kind; hence, good of its kind, having the natural (good) qualities well
developed. Of persons: Naturally well-disposed; having a gentle, sympathetic,
or benevolent nature; ready to assist, or show consideration for, others;
generous, liberal, courteous. Also of disposition. Well or favorably
disposed to; bearing good will to. Exhibiting a friendly or benevolent
disposition by one's conduct to a person or animal. Of action, language,
etc.: Arising from or displaying a kind disposition. Of persons, their
actions, etc.: Affectionate, loving, fond; on intimate terms (also euphemistically).
Acceptable, agreeable, pleasant, winsome; kindly. Grateful, thankful.
I
lay awake in a borrowed bed. The curtain blew in slightly; windows leak.
The room seemed to breathe. A car turned into my hearing, turned around
in some distant driveway, paused, slid out again: no lights. Persistent
click of the drip on the rim of the drain.
Kind-hearted
Having naturally a kind disposition.
Kindlaik
Kindness.
Kindless
Without natural power, affection, feeling, etc.: unnatural. Devoid of
kindness.
Kindlessly
Without affection.
Kindlily
In a kindly manner; with good nature and sympathy.
Kindliness
The quality or habit of being kindly. An instance of this, a kindly
deed.
Mildness or amenity (of climate or season) favorable to vegetation.
I
lay looking up, having once again almost drifted off--approached the edge
of sleep but gone no further: a lean-to propped against the ice-smooth
wall of a palace. Nothing more. My pillow seemed stuffed with books. Insomnia
is a confrontation between a finite being and infinite time. (Is that
right? Then does sleep order infinity?) After further cruel comparisons
and a brief drink from that perpetual faucet, I almost slept. A drip on
the rim of the dream.
Kindly
Natural, in various senses. That is, exists or takes place according
to natural laws; consonant or congruent with nature; natural, as opposed
to artificial. Implanted by nature; innate; inherent in the nature of
a person or thing. Naturally belonging to or connected with a person
or thing; own, proper, suitable. That belongs to one by birth; native;
hereditary. Existing between kinsfolk. Having a right to one's position
in virtue of birth or descent; rightful, lawful. Of children: Lawfully
born, legitimate. Of a tenant: Holding a lease of land which his ancestors
have similarly held before him: such a tenant usually held his land
on favorable terms, and the name was also extended to others admitted
as tenants on similar conditions. Native-born. Characterized by good
nature. Of good nature or natural qualities; excellent of its kind;
of a good sort; in good condition, thriving; goodly. Of persons: Having
a friendly benevolent disposition; kind-hearted, good-natured. Hence
also of character, feelings, actions, etc.
The
bell rang; rang; rang. Was it four?...had I dreamed one stroke,
or slept through two? I lay awake. Light somewhere: a mirrored blur, it
dimmed. I turned, for a cooler pillow on my face. The sun would come up
soon; I would never sleep. I slept.
Of
things, especially of the weather, climate, or soil: Genial, benign:
favorable to growth or for a particular crop. Acceptable, agreeable,
pleasant, genial. In accordance with nature; naturally; by natural disposition;
characteristically. In the way suitable or appropriate to the nature
of the thing; properly, fittingly. In later use, especially said of
processes which successfully follow their natural course. In an easy,
natural way; readily; congenially; spontaneously. Properly; thoroughly,
exactly. With natural affection, affectionately, lovingly; with sympathy,
benevolence, or good nature. Benignly, genially. In a way that is pleasant
or agreeable to the recipient or object; agreeably, pleasantly. Kinship;
near relationship; natural affection arising from this. Natural right
or title derived from birth or descent; the status of a kindly tenant.
Natural inclination, tendency, disposition, or aptitude. Good natural
quality or aptitude. The quality or habit of being kind; kind nature
or disposition, or the exhibition of this in action or conduct. An instance
of this; a kind act; a benefaction. A benefit, an advantage. Kind feeling;
a feeling of tenderness or fondness; affection, love. Also good will,
favor, friendship.
Kindred
The being of kin; relationship by blood or descent. Affinity in respect
of qualities; resemblance, agreement. A group or body of persons related
to each other by blood; a family, clan, tribe. The human kindred,
the human race. Of the same kin; related by birth or descent; cognate.
Omissions
mine. Spark and crackle of suddenly illuminated snow, sweep of sugar-blown
shadows, a black night, windless cold, whole pines toppled with the play
of a flashlight beam, the spear-flung, glass-barked wood lumbering alongside--a
sheer drop.
What a terrible dream.
Density and clarity. Failed synthesis. The unskated pond of the full moon
caught in a tilting mirror, wreathed in leaves.
Are we "related"? Should we "exhibit a friendly or benevolent disposition
to a person? an animal?" and be "ready to assist, or show consideration
for, others, bearing good will" to them?
It's you I miss tonight. Without you, only myself; not enough.
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