kind
1 (kīnd)
[Middle English, natural, kind, from Old English gecynde, natural.]
adjective: kind·er, kind·est.
- Of a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature.
- Showing sympathy or understanding; charitable: a kind word.
- Humane; considerate: kind to animals.
- Forbearing; tolerant: Our neighbor was very kind about the window we broke.
- Generous; liberal: kind words of praise.
- Agreeable; beneficial: a dry climate kind to asthmatics.
synonyms:
kind1kindly, kindhearted, benign, benevolent 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)
[Middle English, from Old English gecynd, race, offspring, kind.]
noun
- A group of individuals or instances sharing common traits; a category or sort: different kinds of furniture; a new kind of politics.
- A doubtful or borderline member of a given category: fashioned a kind of shelter; a kind of bluish color.
- Archaic
- Underlying character as a determinant of the class to which a thing belongs; nature or essence.
- The natural order or course of things; nature.
- Manner or fashion.
idioms
- all kinds of
- Plenty of; ample: We have all kinds of time to finish the job.
- in kind
- With produce or commodities rather than with money: pay in kind. In the same manner or with an equivalent: returned the slight in kind.
- kind of
- Rather; somewhat: I'm kind of hungry.
- of a kind
- Of the same kind; alike: My father and my uncle are two of a kind.
