fond

Where does the word "fond" come from? It comes from Middle English fonne, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Fond’s story begins in Middle English: fonne meant “fool.” 'a fool', of uncertain origin; 'fonned' meant made foolish. It reached English by 1500s as fond. Moved from 'foolish' to 'foolishly doting' to 'affectionate'; King Lear, awakening, calls himself 'a very foolish fond old man' (c. 1606). Today, fond means having an affection or liking for.

1. Stage 1 · Middle English · 1300s fonne "fool", 'a fool', of uncertain origin; 'fonned' meant made foolish.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s fond "affectionate", moved from 'foolish' to 'foolishly doting' to 'affectionate'; King Lear, awakening, calls himself 'a very foolish fond old man' (c. 1606).