crony
English
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GenAm" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkɹoʊni/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkɹəʊni/
- Rhymes: -əʊni
Etymology 1
Coined between 1655 and 1665 from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] 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.
Noun
crony (plural cronies)
- (informal, originally Cambridge University) Close friend.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:friend
- Antonym: noncrony
- Washington Irving
- He soon found his former cronies, though all rather the worse for the wear and tear of time.
- (informal) Trusted companion or partner in a criminal organization.
Alternative forms
Derived terms
Translations
Close friend
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See also
References
- ^ “crony”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
- ^ "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
Etymology 2
Noun
crony (plural cronies)