Friendship
/ˈfrɛnd.ʃɪp/noun
The state of being friends; a close, mutual bond between people.
Did you know?Friend and friendship come from a deep Germanic root meaning “to love” or “to be fond of,” so the word began as a term for someone held close by affection, not just social closeness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*priH-
“to love, to care for”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*frijaz
“beloved, dear, free”
Old English
OE
frēond
“friend; a loved one, kinsman, or ally”
Old English
OE
frēondsċip
“friendship; the state of being friends”
Middle English
ME
frendship
“friendship, amity”
Modern English
English
friendship
“the state of being friends”