Lets Clairify

I wanted to clarify what i was saying in the post “Your spouse is your best friend?”  as i was talking to a few people about it last night who used the phrase before we had a little debate and i think i changed their opinion on the matter. Just looking at the definitions, I believe that its almost like a hierarchy. In order to be with someone in a spouse relationship, you should already have all of the qualities of the best friend. So it seems redundant to say that your spouse is your best friend. I mean i guess some relationships are not built on a friend ship, they are built on… ummm i am not sure because i don’t really want that relationship!

The redundancy is what gets me. You are calling a girlfriend or boyfriend your best friend? That’s already covered! 4a below in the definition of mate. This is the person that you are closest to. Its already encompassing! 

 

best friend – the one friend who is closest to you

friend – a person you know well and regard with affection and trust; “he was my best friend at the university”

 

boy·friend  (boi′frĕnd′)

n.

1. A favored male companion or sweetheart.

 

mate ¹  (māt)

n.

1. One of a matched pair: the mate to this glove.

2. A spouse.

3.

a. Either of a pair of animals or birds that associate in order to propagate.

b. Either of a pair of animals brought together for breeding.

4.

a. A person with whom one is in close association; an associate.

b. Chiefly British A good friend or companion.

c. A person with whom one shares living quarters. Often used in combination: advertised for a new flatmate.

5. A deck officer on a merchant ship ranking next below the master.

6. A U.S. Navy petty officer who is an assistant to a warrant officer.