fond
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.liking someone or something very much, especially for a long time.
adj.having a strong liking, affection, or preference for something. Predicative use usually requires the preposition 'of'.
Simple“My grandfather was very fond of his old garden and spent every morning there.”
In context“Over the years, she grew increasingly fond of the quiet coastal village, eventually deciding to settle there permanently after her retirement.”
UsageAlways used with the preposition 'of' when followed by an object.
PitfallI am fond to play tennis. I am fond of playing tennis.The adjective 'fond' must be followed by 'of' and a noun or gerund, never a 'to' infinitive.
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.showing love or warm feelings through your actions or words.
adj.demonstrating affection or warmth. Often used attributively to describe memories, looks, or gestures.
Simple“She gave him a fond smile as he walked through the door.”
In context“He kept a fond memory of their first meeting, often recounting the story with great detail at family gatherings.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.describing a hope or belief that is probably not going to happen.
adj.describing a hope or expectation that is foolishly optimistic or unlikely to be realised.
Simple“He had a fond hope that the car would start despite the freezing weather.”
In context“The politician clung to the fond belief that the public would overlook the scandal once the new policy was announced.”
Teacher's tipIn modern English, this sense is almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase 'fond hope' or 'fond belief'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.the brown bits of food left in a pan after cooking meat or vegetables.
n.the browned particles of food, typically meat, remaining in a pan after sautéing or roasting, used as a base for sauces.
Simple“Add some wine to the pan to loosen the fond and make a tasty sauce.”
In context“The chef deglazed the pan with a splash of brandy, carefully scraping up the fond to enrich the base of the reduction.”
UsageBorrowed from French; usually treated as an uncountable noun in culinary contexts.
“On his way to space, the boy reflects on fond memories with this special relative.”
From Middle English fond, fonned, past participle of fonnen (“to be foolish, be simple, dote”), equivalent to fon + -ed. More at fon.
From French, ultimately from Latin fundus. Doublet of fund and fundus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.