crony
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Coined between 1655 and 1665 from Ancient Greek χρόνιος (khrónios, “perennial, long-lasting”) (English chrono- (“time”),[1] initially as Cambridge University slang,[2][3][4][5] in sense of “chum”, as “friend of long standing”,[6] with illegal connotation later.[7]
Early spellings included chrony, as in 1665 diary by Samuel Pepys,[6] supporting the Greek origin.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
crony (plural cronies)
- (informal) Close friend.
- Washington Irving
- He soon found his former cronies, though all rather the worse for the wear and tear of time.
- Washington Irving
- (informal) Trusted companion or partner in a criminal organization.
- (obsolete) An old woman; a crone.
- Burton
- Marry not an old crony.
- Burton
Synonyms [edit]
- See also Wikisaurus:friend
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
Close friend
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ “crony” in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Online.
- ^ "Crony" at Dictionary.com
- ^ AskOxford: crony
- ^ Richard Reeves, NS Essay – “Friendship is the invisible thread running through society.” April 19, 2004
- ^ “Cronyism: The New Sleaze.” BBC News. December 23, 1998
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 “The I’s Have It”, William Safire, The New York Times. October 30, 2005
- ^ “That Single Word.” Juan L. Mercado, The Ilocos Times, September 24, 2006
