Obs. Forms: 1 fréfran, -ian, fróf(e)rian, 23 fréfrian, -en, 23 freuren, -in, 24 frou(e)ren, -in, south. vrouren, vroæfrien, (3 froðeren). Also 12 ȝefréfran, -ian, 2 ifréfran, 3 ifrófren. [OE. fréfrian, frófrian, also ȝefréfran, ȝefréfrian, f. frófor, FROVER sb. Cf. OS. fróbrean, OHG. fluobiren.]
trans. To comfort, console. Const. for, of.
c. 900. trans. Bædas Hist., V. v. (1890), 396. Cwæð he þæt ȝewunelice word þæra frefrendra.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John xi. 19. Hiȝ woldon hi frefrian for hyra broðor þingon.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 97. He ifrefrað þa droriȝan.
c. 1200. Ormin, 150. Forr þatt he wollde himm frofrenn.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 119. Bidde we nu þe holigost þat he freure us of alle soreȝe.
c. 1205. Lay., 19545. Þat [ich] on þissen felde mote beon ifroured.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 465/104. Pouere Men þare-with to freueri.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 7. Frevereth thorwe his body man.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 889. Of þulke [grace] þat alle [con] frouere.
Hence † Frovering vbl. sb.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 117. Ich wile ȝiu senden þe heuenliche frefringe wið-innen a lit daȝes.
c. 1300. Harrow. Hell, 166. We hopeth wel thourh thy comyng Of oure sunnes haven froryng.