companion

¹

[ kuhm-pan-yuhn ]

noun

1. a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another:

   my son and his two companions.

   Synonyms: mate, partner, comrade, associate

2. a person employed to accompany, assist, or live with another in the capacity of a helpful friend.
3. a mate or match for something:

   White wine is the usual companion of fish.

4. a handbook or guide:

   a bird watcher's companion.

5. a member of the lowest rank in an order of knighthood or of a grade in an order.
6. Also called companion star, comes. Astronomy. the fainter of the two stars that constitute a double star. Compare primary ( def 19b ).
7. Obsolete. a fellow.

verb (used with object)

1. to be a companion to; accompany.

companion

²

[ kuhm-pan-yuhn ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. a covering over the top of a companionway.
2. a companionway.

companion

¹

/ kəmˈpænjən /

noun

1. nautical
   1. a raised frame on an upper deck with windows to give light to the deck below
   2. ( as modifier )

      a companion ladder

companion

²

/ kəmˈpænjən /

noun

1. a person who is an associate of another or others; comrade
2. (esp formerly) an employee, usually a woman, who provides company for an employer, esp an elderly woman
3. 1. one of a pair; match
   2. ( as modifier )

      a companion volume

4. a guidebook or handbook
5. a member of the lowest rank of any of certain orders of knighthood
6. astronomy the fainter of the two components of a double star

verb

1. tr to accompany or be a companion to

Derived Forms

• comˈpanionless, adjective

Other Words From

• com·panion·less adjective
• uncom·panioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of companion¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English compainoun, from Anglo-French; Old French compaignon, from Late Latin compāniōn- (stem of compāniō ) “messmate,” equivalent to com- “with, together” + pān(is) “bread” + -iōn- noun suffix; presumably as translation of a Germanic word; compare Gothic gahlaiba, Old High German galeipo; com-, -ion

Origin of companion²

First recorded in 1730–40; alteration of Dutch kampanje “quarterdeck,” possibly from Italian compagna “pantry (of a ship)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of companion¹

C18: from Dutch kompanje quarterdeck, from Old French compagne, from Old Italian compagna pantry, perhaps ultimately from Latin pānis bread

Origin of companion²

C13: from Late Latin compāniō, literally: one who eats bread with another, from Latin com- with + pānis bread

Synonym Study

See acquaintance.

Example Sentences

In my now two-person household, his return to home cooking brought an unexpected companion: leftovers.

From Salon

Though “Queer” could be seen as a thematic companion to Guadagnino’s 2017 film “Call Me By Your Name” — which was adapted from equally controversial source material — the movies are more alike in feeling than form.

From Salon

There’s a reason for the text at the beginning letting us know that nearly everything we see in “Porcelain War” was filmed by its subjects, because knowing who’s behind the camera allows us to absorb the images as a willful counterbalance to despair: light bathing a meadow teeming with life, how couples banter with a few drinks in them, the pair’s adorable canine companion, Frodo.

From Los Angeles Times

In the face of die-hard Rulfo fans and three previous unsuccessful adaptations, Pietro leans on his deep-rooted understanding of the text itself, its cultural significance and new age technology to create an on-screen companion for the haunting tale.

From Los Angeles Times

Future research may aim to determine if the supernova was larger at one point, whether just by being a super-massive star or if its materials were stripped away by a still undiscovered binary companion.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• accomplice
• aide
• ally
• assistant
• associate
• buddy
• co-worker
• colleague
• comrade
• cousin
• crony
• guide
• mate
• nurse
• partner
• playmate
• protector