Cosying

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of enhancing a place to provide warmth and refuge
2. Creating an environment filled with warmth and comfort to promote relaxation and safety
3. Arranging or adjusting a setting so it feels snug and inviting to those within it

Etymology: Scots gave English "cosy" and, with it, the verb "cosying". The Scots word "cosie" is probably a descendant of "colsie" in Old Scots, but its deeper origin is unknown. One possibility is that it came from the Norwegian phrase "kose seg", meaning to have a snug, pleasant time, which traces back to Old Norse "kose sig". That chain may reach an Old High German root behind the modern German verb "kosen", meaning to cuddle, though this is uncertain. The word's core idea is closeness and comfort: a cosy place is one where people are sheltered and at ease together. "Cosying" took that quality and made it an action, so that to cosy something up is to tweak it until it feels warm and inviting.

Synonyms: snuggling, cuddling, nestling