Etymology Dictionary

KIND (1),  adj., natural, loving.  (E.)   M.E. kunde, kinde; Chaucer, C. T. 8478.   'For þe kunde folk of þe lond' = for the native people of the land; Rob. of Glouc. p. 40, l. 11.   A common meaning is 'natural' or 'native'—A.S. cynde, natural, native, in-born; more usually gecynde, where the common prefix ge- does not alter the sense; Grein, i. 178, 388.   The orig. sense is 'born;' as in Goth. kwina-kunds, born as a woman, female, Gal. iii. 28.   The Teut. base is KONDA (Fick, iii. 39), a past participial form from KAN = Aryan ✔GAN, to generate.   See Kin.   Der. kind (2), q.v.; kind-ness, M.E. kindenesse (four syllables), Chaucer, C. T. 5533; kind-ly, adv.; kind-hearted, Shak. Sonnet 10.

KIND (2),  sb., nature, sort, character.  (E.)   M.E. kund, kunde, kind, kinde; Chaucer, C. T. 2453; spelt kunde, Ancren Riwle, p. 14, l. 10.—A.S. cynd, generally gecynd, Grein, i. 387, 388; the prefix ge- making no difference to the meaning; the most usual sense is 'nature.'   From the adj. above.   Der. kind-ly, adj., M.E. kyndeli = natural, Wyclif, Wisdom, xii. 10, and so used in the Litany in the phr. 'kindly fruits;' whence also kindli-ness.