Thanks to the ubiquitous advertising that hit the domestic viewer in the early nineties, everyone has become well aware that comfort is of great importance for a full-fledged human life. However, what exactly does this noun mean, and is it really an integral attribute of happiness? Let's learn more about this word and its origin.
The main lexical meaning of the word "comfort"
In modern linguistics, this term is interpreted as the arrangement of human life in everyday life. Moreover, not only living conditions can be comfortable, but also studies, work, travel, as well as the use of all public goods.
Psychological comfort
The meaning of the described word applies not only to the material spheres, but also to the spiritual state of each representative of human society.
Unlike the material, psychological comfort depends entirely on the individual's ability to enjoy his life. It often happens that a person has everything to be happy: a loving family, a well-paid interesting job, respect in society and a cozy home. However, with this abundance, he feels deeply miserable. And his friend, living in a village without gas and water, enjoys life and considers himself incredibly happy.
These and similar examples indicate that material comfort is a phenomenon that does not necessarily immediately give psychological satisfaction.
As a rule, if a person feels moral discomfort, then more coherent natures can independently understand his causes. But others have to resort to outside help in order to find peace of mind and learn to enjoy life. Such helpers can be friends and relatives, a good psychologist, a priest or his eastern counterpart - a guru, as well as prayer and meditation.
Trying to establish emotional comfort, you should not rush to the extremes and give up all material wealth, as some eastern practices teach. It is worth remembering that true psychological comfort is achieved through moderation and balance. After all, no matter how beautiful the summer rain was, the majority still prefers to watch it while sitting in a warm, cozy house.
Comfort Zone: Good or Evil?
In modern psychology, the concept of “comfort zone” is also widespread. This phrase refers to the area of the person’s living space in which she feels as comfortable and calm as possible.
The state of psychological equilibrium in the comfort zone, as a rule, is achieved due to stability and confidence in one's own security and tomorrow. An established lifestyle, profitable work, a huge bank account and the like can become such a zone for an individual.
Although, on the one hand, staying in a comfort zone has a beneficial effect on the emotional balance of a person, helping her to find peace and even sometimes happiness, this condition can be fatal.
The fact is that, being confident in the future and happy with today, a person relaxes and loses the incentive for further development. Why, because he has already achieved everything? As an employee, such an individual is already less diligent, as a spouse, less attentive, etc. It is for this reason that many psychologists believe that total comfort is a fatal phenomenon for a person.
Therefore, people in the comfort zone are advised by experts to constantly gradually expand its limits. This will allow not only to gain new life experience, but also to expand their horizons and make new discoveries.
In this case, you still need to be afraid of extremes and observe moderation, since excessively abrupt changes in life can not always benefit her. Although there were situations when it was the exit from the comfort zone that helped a person find his vocation.
The history of the appearance of this noun in Russian
Having learned what the word “comfort” means, it is worth considering its origin. For the first time this term appeared in Latin. It looked like this - confortare and translated using the verb "strengthen".
After the fall of the Roman Empire, this word migrated to most European languages, where it is preserved to this day. Moreover, it has undergone minimal transformation over all centuries. So, in French it began to be written confort, in German - Komfort, and in English - comfort.
In the Russian language, the time the appearance of the noun “comfort” is the 19th century. By the way, through the mediation of Russian, this word also fell into two other East Slavic languages: Ukrainian (comfort) and Belarusian (camphor).
From what exactly European language this name came to Russian - linguists are still not exactly sure. There are two versions: either from English (comfort), or from German (Komfort). But definitely not from French, since in this language it is written and pronounced not through the letter "m", but through "n".
As for the writing, "comfort" is a dictionary word, so you just need to remember it.
Morphemic analysis of this noun is very simple. The fact is that its base and root coincide - "comfort", and the ending in the nominative and accusative cases is zero.
Synonyms
Having considered the meaning and origin of the word “comfort” and related concepts, it is worthwhile to find out what analogues can be got to it. The most famous and complete synonyms for the noun “comfort” are the words “comfort”, “convenience”, “well-being”, “lad”.
In some cases, instead of this term, you can use the words: "prosperity", "prosperity", "hedonia", "contentment" or even "nirvana".
Antonyms
As for the selection of antonyms, they are much smaller than synonyms. So, the terms “discomfort” and “inconvenience” are acceptable as words with a diametrically opposite meaning.
Having examined the meaning of the word “comfort”, we can conclude that this concept is quite important in a person’s life and deny his need not only psychologically but also materially, there will be only a fool or a hypocrite. However, in an effort to make your life comfortable, you should not forget that it will truly become such if priorities are set correctly in it.