kind
kind Lexical Profile
kind Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Having or showing a friendly, generous, sympathetic, and considerate nature toward others.
"The kind neighbor brought over a warm meal when our family was sick."
Gentle, mild, or favorable in effect; not causing harm or discomfort.
"This mild soap is specially formulated to be kind to sensitive skin."
• noun
A class or group of people or things that share common characteristics; a particular type, sort, or variety.
"The botanical garden features several rare kinds of orchids."
Essential nature, character, or quality, especially when contrasted with degree or quantity.
"The two proposals differ in degree rather than in kind."
Goods or services used as payment or bartered directly, rather than money (chiefly in the phrase 'in kind').
"The tenant farmers paid their annual rent in kind with a portion of the wheat harvest."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used as a noun meaning 'type' or 'variety,' singular 'kind' should agree with singular demonstratives and nouns ('this kind of book'), while plural 'kinds' takes plural forms ('these kinds of books'), especially in formal writing.
• Rhymes for kind
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Old English 'gecynd' (nature, race, or sort) and 'cynde' (natural, native, or well-disposed), ultimately tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *gene- meaning 'to give birth' or 'beget', which also yielded 'kin', 'genus', and 'gentle'.