crony

crony
\ \ [17] Crony originated as a piece of Cambridge university slang. Originally written chrony, it was based on Greek khrónioslonglasting’, a derivative of khrónostime’ (source of English chronicle, chronology, chronic, etc), and seems to have been intended to mean ‘friend of long-standing’, or perhaps ‘contemporary’. The first recorded reference to it is in the diary of Samuel Pepys, a Cambridge man: ‘Jack Cole, my old school-fellow … who was a great chrony of mine’, 30 May 1665.
\ \ Cf.CHRONIC, CHRONICLE, CHRONOLOGY

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • crony — cro ny (kr[=o] n[y^]), n.; pl. {Cronies} (kr[=o] n[i^]z). [Orig., an old woman. See {Crone}.] 1. A crone. [Obs.] Marry not an old crony. Burton. [1913 Webster] 2. An intimate companion; a familiar friend. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] He soon found… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • crony — 1660s, Cambridge student slang, probably from Gk. khronios long lasting, from khronos time, and with a sense of old friend, or contemporary …   Etymology dictionary

  • crony — comrade, companion, *associate Analogous words: intimate, *friend, confidant …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • crony — [n] ally, companion accomplice, acquaintance, associate, bosom buddy*, buddy, chum, colleague, comate, comrade, confidant, friend, good buddy*, intimate, mate, pal, partner, sidekick*; concept 423 Ant. enemy, foe …   New thesaurus

  • crony — ► NOUN (pl. cronies) informal, often derogatory ▪ a close friend or companion. ORIGIN originally Cambridge university slang: from Greek khronios long lasting (here used to mean «contemporary»); compare with CHUM(Cf. ↑chummy) …   English terms dictionary

  • crony — [krō′nē] n. pl. cronies [Brit university slang < ? Gr chronios, long continued (hence taken as “old friend”) < chronos, time] a close companion …   English World dictionary

  • crony — UK [ˈkrəʊnɪ] / US [ˈkroʊnɪ] noun [countable] Word forms crony : singular crony plural cronies showing disapproval a friend or supporter, especially of someone powerful …   English dictionary

  • crony — Synonyms and related words: ace, adjunct, ally, amigo, associate, bedfellow, bedmate, bosom buddy, brother, brother in arms, buddy, bunkie, bunkmate, butty, camarade, chamberfellow, chum, classmate, coadjutor, cohort, colleague, comate, companion …   Moby Thesaurus

  • crony — [17] Crony originated as a piece of Cambridge university slang. Originally written chrony, it was based on Greek khrónios ‘longlasting’, a derivative of khrónos ‘time’ (source of English chronicle, chronology, chronic, etc), and seems to have… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • Crony capitalism — is a term describing a capitalist economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials. It may be exhibited by favoritism in the distribution of legal permits, government grants,… …   Wikipedia

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