Literary notes about crony (AI summary)
In literature, the term "crony" is often employed to denote a close companion or associate, frequently with a hint of complicity or informality. It can carry neutral or even affectionate overtones when referring to a trusted friend, as in the understated familiarity of a confidant ([1], [2]). At the same time, its use sometimes implies a more dubious partnership, suggesting alliances formed through shared questionable interests or even sly machinations, as illustrated by characters who act more out of opportunism than genuine loyalty ([3], [4]). The word’s flexible connotation lends a distinctive flavor to character interactions, whether highlighting endearing comradery or critiquing the dynamics of power and influence within a social sphere ([5], [6], [7]).
- He called me Old Crony, as I used to come to him in the field and follow him about.
— from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell - “I stayed on till midnight at my crony’s.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov - The transmutation of that dross to gold took place so naturally that she was not aware of lying when she told her crony that she was of royal birth.
— from Veiled Women by Marmaduke William Pickthall - But I take it that it is more likely to be some crony of the landlady’s.”
— from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - But the all-knowing Editor, Renouard’s only friend and crony, wanted to know more than the rest of the world.
— from Within the Tides: Tales by Joseph Conrad - They took an observation now and then of the forward car, and saw that Sam and his crony were still aboard.
— from Tom Fairfield in Camp; or, The Secret of the Old Mill by Allen Chapman - returned the really astonished Passepartout, recognising his crony of the Mongolia.
— from Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
