Maria Korolenkova Feb 1, 2010:

A friend... ...is a lover, literally.
The relationship between Latin amcus "friend" and am "I love" is clear, as is the relationship between Greek philos "friend" and phile "I love." In English, though, we have to go back a millennium before we see the verb related to friend. At that time, frond, the Old English word for "friend," was simply the present participle of the verb fron, "to love." The Germanic root behind this verb is *fr-, which meant "to like, love, be friendly to." Closely linked to these concepts is that of "peace," and in fact Germanic made a noun from this root, *frithu-, meaning exactly that. Ultimately descended from this noun are the personal names Frederick, "peaceful ruler," and Siegfried, "victory peace." The root also shows up in the name of the Germanic deity Frigg, the goddess of love, who lives on today in the word Friday, "day of Frigg," from an ancient translation of Latin Veneris dis, "day of Venus."

Natalia Volkova Feb 1, 2010:

Angela, I meant Russian folk songs, not the old Russian language in general! Sorry I was not exact in expressing mu thoughts, but i meant special vocabulary used in folk songs (it`s not the old russin, to be exact)!

Angela Greenfield Jan 31, 2010:

"There is no word for "beloved" in old Russian" This is not true, Natalia. Слова "любый" (любимый), "любити" (любить) и "любы" (любовь) существовали еще в старославянском: http://evartist.narod.ru/text15/015.htm#з_48 http://ru.wiktionary.org/wiki/любимый

Natalia Volkova Jan 31, 2010:

What girls write to the boys when they intend to break off of intend to say that she is not interested in him as a man?
She writes something like that:
"Let me be your best and the most sincere friend".
And the boy understands that it`s a gentle way of telling him "I don`t love you!"

Angela Greenfield Jan 31, 2010:

I still don't see your point. One wouldn't call someone "beloved" (except when speaking figuratively) if he/she weren't in an intimate relationship with that "beloved". "Partner" (in English) is a synonim of a "spouse" (in addition to the "business partner"). Anyway, I don't think it's that important. What's important is that the asker now understands what the phrase means.

Natalia Volkova Jan 31, 2010:

And what about English? дружок for "a partner" in Russian is OK.
But in English? There is a friend. And there is a sweetheart! either a friend or a sweetheart.
You see, if both of the words "beloved friend" are used together it bewilders the reader (Is the character her friend or beloved, after all?). Isn`t it better to avoid ambiguity here?

Angela Greenfield Jan 31, 2010:

I don't understand why the word "friend" raises such a negative reaction. "beloved friend" means the same to me as your “beloved”, in addition it retains some of the original meaning of the Russian “дружок” ( in the sense of “partner” or “spouse”).

Natalia Volkova Jan 31, 2010:

Categorically against "dear friend"- sorry, Angie! милый дружок= beloved (in old Russian, in Russian folklore)
The word friend shouldn`t be used in this context!
There is no word for "beloved" in old Russian, in Russian folklore other than an expression "милый дружок"!
милый дружок

Fiorsam (asker) Jan 31, 2010:

You wonderful people... ...are confirming each one of my "guesses". Makes me feel good considering that I don't know a word of Russian and the English doesn't always make sense. Thanks!

DTSM Jan 31, 2010:

there was actually only one 'dear friend' (Sadko, the bridegroom). and he wasn't 'standing by'. he was walking around the wedding tree together with the princess, performing an old Russian wedding ritual.
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Садко_(опера)