comforting
UK: ˈkʌm.fə.tɪŋ | US: ˈkʌm.fɚ.t̬ɪŋ
adj. providing physical or emotional relief; soothing
v. (present participle of comfort) alleviating sadness or distress
The word comfort originates from the Latin confortare (con-<together> + fortis<strong>), meaning "to strengthen greatly." It entered Old French as conforter, retaining the sense of giving strength or solace. By Middle English, comfort evolved to emphasize emotional relief. The suffix -ing forms the present participle, turning the verb into an adjective describing something that provides solace.
Her comforting words eased his anxiety.
The soft blanket felt comforting on a cold night.
He found the familiar music deeply comforting.
A comforting smile can make a difficult day better.
The therapist’s voice was calm and comforting.