meaning - To friend vs. to befriend


I overheard a mother correct her child who said something to the effect of



There was a new kid in my class today and I friended him.



The mother said befriended and I was inclined to mentally agree (given the kid was maybe six or seven, it's unlikely that he was referring to social networking).


However, with a little Googling, I discovered an article from The Atlantic which suggests that 'Friend,' as a Verb, Is 800 Years Old.




  • "Make no purses, for to friend yourself therewith." -- the Guide for Anchoresses, early 13th century

  • "And after soon friended were the King David of Scotland and Stephen, king then of England." -- Andrew of Wyntoun, Chronicles, c. 1425



This answer regarding the be prefix offers:



The general form is:


   be + [quality]

and the corresponding meaning is:


 to turn into + [quality].

So, I guess my question, then, is what is the difference between the verbs to friend and to befriend? Was the kid right?



Answer



Friend as a verb is very old, but its use is now limited to adding someone to a list of social network contacts. Befriend doesn’t necessarily mean ‘make a friend of’. It is typically used when a person offers support to someone in difficulties, rather like the good Samaritan.


If you’re describing the establishment of a close, but not sexual or romantic, relationship, you have to say that two people are, or have become, friends.


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