a friend in court

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Friend \Friend\ (fr[e^]nd), n. [OR. frend, freond, AS. fre['o]nd, prop. p. pr. of fre['o]n, fre['o]gan, to love; akin to D. vriend friend, OS. friund friend, friohan to love, OHG. friunt friend, G. freund, Icel. fr[ae]ndi kinsman, Sw. fr[aum]nde. Goth. frij[=o]nds friend, frij[=o]n to love. [root]83. See Free, and cf. Fiend.]

1.One who entertains for another such sentiments of esteem, respect, and affection that he seeks his society and welfare; a wellwisher; an intimate associate; sometimes, an attendant. [1913 Webster]

Want gives to know the flatterer from the friend.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

A friend that sticketh closer than a brother.— Prov. xviii. 24.[1913 Webster]

2.One not inimical or hostile; one not a foe or enemy; also, one of the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly feelings may be assumed. The word is some times used as a term of friendly address. [1913 Webster]

Friend, how camest thou in hither?— Matt. xxii. 12.[1913 Webster]

3.One who looks propitiously on a cause, an institution, a project, and the like; a favorer; a promoter; as, a friend to commerce, to poetry, to an institution. [1913 Webster]

4.One of a religious sect characterized by disuse of outward rites and an ordained ministry, by simplicity of dress and speech, and esp. by opposition to war and a desire to live at peace with all men. They are popularly called Quakers. [1913 Webster]

America was first visited by Friends in 1656.— T. Chase.[1913 Webster]

5.A paramour of either sex. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

A friend at court or A friend in court, one disposed to act as a friend in a place of special opportunity or influence.

To be friends with, to have friendly relations with. "He's . . . friends with C[ae]sar." --Shak.

To make friends with, to become reconciled to or on friendly terms with. "Having now made friends with the Athenians." --Jowett (Thucyd.). [1913 Webster]