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kind

 - 8 dictionary results

kind

1  [kahynd]
Use kind in a Sentence
–adjective, -er, -est.
1. of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person: a kind and loving person.
2. having, showing, or proceeding from benevolence: kind words.
3. indulgent, considerate, or helpful; humane (often fol. by to): to be kind to animals.
4. mild; gentle; clement: kind weather.
5. British Dialect. loving; affectionate.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME kind(e) natural, well-disposed, OE gecynde natural, genial 1 . See kind 2

Synonyms:
1. mild, benign, benignant, gentle, tender, compassionate. Kind, gracious, kindhearted, kindly imply a sympathetic attitude toward others, and a willingness to do good or give pleasure. Kind implies a deep-seated characteristic shown either habitually or on occasion by considerate behavior: a kind father. Gracious often refers to kindness from a superior or older person to a subordinate, an inferior, a child, etc.: a gracious monarch. Kindhearted implies an emotionally sympathetic nature, sometimes easily imposed upon: a kindhearted old woman. Kindly, a mild word, refers usually to general disposition, appearance, manner, etc.: a kindly face.

Antonyms:
1. cruel.

kind

2  [kahynd]
–noun
1. a class or group of individual objects, people, animals, etc., of the same nature or character, or classified together because they have traits in common; category: Our dog is the same kind as theirs.
2. nature or character as determining likeness or difference between things: These differ in degree rather than in kind.
3. a person or thing as being of a particular character or class: He is a strange kind of hero.
4. a more or less adequate or inadequate example of something; sort: The vines formed a kind of roof.
5. Archaic.
a. the nature, or natural disposition or character.
b. manner; form.
6. Obsolete. gender; sex.
—Idioms
7. in kind,
a. in something of the same kind or in the same way as that received or borne: They will be repaid in kind for their rudeness.
b. in goods, commodities, or services rather than money: In colonial times, payment was often made in kind.
8. kind of, Informal. to some extent; somewhat; rather: The room was kind of dark.
9. of a kind, of the same class, nature, character, etc.: They are two of a kind.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME kinde, OE gecynd nature, race, origin; c. ON kyndi, OHG kikunt, L gēns (gen. gentis); see kin

Synonyms:
1. order, genus, species; race, breed; set.

Usage note:
The phrase these (or those) kind of, followed by a plural noun (these kind of flowers; those kind of shoes) is frequently condemned as ungrammatical because it is said to combine a plural demonstrative (these; those) with a singular noun, kind. Historically, kind is an unchanged or unmarked plural noun like deer, folk, sheep, and swine, and the construction these kind of is an old one, occurring in the writings of Shakespeare, Swift, Jane Austen, and, in modern times, Jimmy Carter and Winston Churchill. Kind has also developed the plural kinds, evidently because of the feeling that the old pattern was incorrect. These kind of nevertheless persists in use, esp. in less formal speech and writing. In edited, more formal prose, this kind of and these kinds of are more common. Sort of has been influenced by the use of kind as an unchanged plural: these sort of books. This construction too is often considered incorrect and appears mainly in less formal speech and writing.
Kind (or sort) of as an adverbial modifier meaning “somewhat” occurs in informal speech and writing: Sales have been kind (or sort) of slow these last few weeks.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To kind
kind 1   (kīnd)   
adj.   kind·er, kind·est

  1. Of a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature.

  2. Showing sympathy or understanding; charitable: a kind word.

  3. Humane; considerate: kind to animals.

  4. Forbearing; tolerant: Our neighbor was very kind about the window we broke.

  5. Generous; liberal: kind words of praise.

  6. Agreeable; beneficial: a dry climate kind to asthmatics.


[Middle English, natural, kind, from Old English gecynde, natural; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These adjectives mean having or showing a tender, considerate, and helping nature. Kind and kindly are the least specific: thanked her for her kind letter; a kindly gentleman.
Kindhearted especially suggests an innately kind disposition: a kindhearted teacher.
Benign implies gentleness and mildness: benign intentions; a benign sovereign.
Benevolent suggests charitableness and a desire to promote the welfare or happiness of others: a benevolent contributor.
kind 2   (kīnd)   
n.  

    1. A group of individuals or instances sharing common traits; a category or sort: different kinds of furniture; a new kind of politics.

    2. A doubtful or borderline member of a given category: fashioned a kind of shelter; a kind of bluish color.

    3. Underlying character as a determinant of the class to which a thing belongs; nature or essence.

    4. The natural order or course of things; nature.

    5. Manner or fashion.

  2. Archaic

    1. Underlying character as a determinant of the class to which a thing belongs; nature or essence.

    2. The natural order or course of things; nature.

    3. Manner or fashion.


[Middle English, from Old English gecynd, race, offspring, kind; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

kind  (n.)
"class, sort, variety," from O.E. gecynd "kind, nature, race," related to cynn "family" (see kin), from P.Gmc. *gakundiz (see kind (adj.)). Ælfric's rendition of "the Book of Genesis" into O.E. came out gecyndboc. The prefix disappeared 1150-1250. No exact cognates beyond Eng., but it corresponds to adj. endings such as Goth -kunds, O.H.G. -kund. Also as a suffix (mankind, etc.). Other earlier, now obs., senses in Eng. included "character, quality derived from birth" and "manner or way natural or proper to anyone." Use in phrase a kind of (1591) led to colloquial extension as adv. (1804) in phrases such as kind of stupid ("a kind of stupid (person)").

kind  (adj.)
"friendly," from O.E. gecynde "natural, native, innate," originally "with the feeling of relatives for each other," from P.Gmc. *gakundiz, from *kunjan (see kin), with collective prefix *ga- and abstract suffix *-iz. Sense development from "with natural feelings," to "well-disposed" (c.1300), "benign, compassionate" (1297). Kindly (adj.) is O.E. gecyndelic. Kind-hearted is from 1535; kindness is from c.1290.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: kind
Function: noun
1 : a particular type, category, or class kind> —see also LIKE-KIND EXCHANGE
2 a : an unconverted form kind>; broadly : a form other than money kind> —see also IN-KIND b : the equivalent in value kind>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

kind

In addition to the idiom beginning with kind, also see all kinds of; in kind; nothing of the kind; of a kind; two of a kind.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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