n. [ Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. fāni silly, fāna to act silly, Sw. fåne fool. Cf. Fond, a. ] A fool; an idiot. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To caress; to fondle. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The Tyrian hugs and fonds thee on her breast. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

obs. imp. of Find. Found. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Fonder superl. Fondest. ] [ For fonned, p. p. of OE. fonnen to be foolish. See Fon. ] 1. Foolish; silly; simple; weak. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Grant I may never prove so fond
To trust man on his oath or bond. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Foolishly tender and loving; weakly indulgent; over-affectionate. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Affectionate; loving; tender; -- in a good sense; as, a fond mother or wife. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Loving; much pleased; affectionately regardful, indulgent, or desirous; longing or yearning; -- followed by of (formerly also by on). [ 1913 Webster ]

More fond on her than she upon her love. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

You are as fond of grief as of your child. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A great traveler, and fond of telling his adventures. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Doted on; regarded with affection. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor fix on fond abodes to circumscribe thy prayer. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Trifling; valued by folly; trivial. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. fundus. See Fund. ] [ Obs., or used as a French word ] 1. Foundation; bottom; groundwork; specif.: (a) (Lace Making) The ground. (b) (Cookery) The broth or juice from braised flesh or fish, usually served as a sauce. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Fund, stock, or store. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. i. To be fond; to dote. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., lit., melting, p. pr. of fondre to melt, L. fundere. See Found to cast. ] A kind of soft candy, made of a thick creamy sugar paste by boiling solutions to the point of crystallization, and usually molded; as, cherry fondant. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. & i. [ AS. fandian to try. ] To endeavor; to strive; to try. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fondled p. pr. & vb. n. Fondling ] [ From Fond, v. ] To treat or handle with tenderness or in a loving manner; to caress; as, a nurse fondles a child.

Syn.- See Caress. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who fondles. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]