Cronie

/ˈkroʊni/ noun

Definition

A close friend or familiar associate; a variant spelling of 'crony,' used interchangeably to mean someone you spend a lot of time with and trust.

Etymology

Variant spelling of crony, which derives from Greek 'chronios' (long-lasting), referring to friends who have known each other for a long time.

Kelly Says

The word 'crony' originally meant someone you'd known for ages—from Greek 'chronios' (time)—but by the 1800s it gained negative connotations when used in 'crony capitalism,' suggesting unfair favoritism and corruption.

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