befriend

[bih-frend] /bɪˈfrɛnd/

verb (used with object)

to make friends or become friendly with; act as a friend to; help; aid:

to befriend the poor and the weak.

Origin

1550-60; be- + friend

Related forms

unbefriended, adjective

Synonyms

assist, comfort, succor; welcome.

Examples from the web for befriend

But the social aspect is actually quite distinctive, as members need to befriend each other and collaborate.
With some social sites, a snooper needs to befriend someone in order to view her personal connections.
Social networks are bogs filled with people who are there to befriend one another, tell their stories, or voice their complaints.
One of the best byproducts of my cancer is that it has helped me befriend weakness.
My former colleague with the puppies was, in his own unique way, simply trying to befriend me.
By the end of the year some of them even attempted to befriend us.
And the families sometimes befriend foreign students from their children's birth countries.
However, she is terrified of my husband and cowers and runs away from him whenever he tries to befriend her.
Shortly after, four storybook characters come to life and befriend her.
People only befriend someone if they have something to gain from that friendship.

British Dictionary definitions for befriend

/bɪˈfrɛnd/

verb

(transitive) to be a friend to; assist; favour

Word Origin and History for befriend

1550s, from be- + friend (q.v.). Related: Befriended; befriending.