Definition of COMPANION

companion

Plural: companions

Noun

  • a friend who is frequently in the company of another
    • "drinking companions"
  • a traveler who accompanies you
  • one paid to accompany or assist or live with another
  • A friend, acquaintance, or partner; someone with whom one spends time or accompanies
  • A person employed to accompany or travel with another.
  • The framework on the quarterdeck of a sailing ship through which daylight entered the cabins below.
  • The covering of a hatchway on an upper deck which leads to the companionway; the stairs themselves.
  • A knot in whose neighborhood another, specified knot meets every meridian disk.
  • A thing or phenomenon that is closely associated with another thing, phenomenon, or person.
  • An appended source of media or information, designed to be used in conjunction with and to enhance the main material.
  • A celestial object that is associated with another.
  • A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders.
  • A fellow; a rogue.

Verb

  • be a companion to somebody
  • To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany.
  • To qualify as a companion; to make equal.

Examples

  • a companion of the Bath
  • His dog has been his trusted companion for the last five years.
  • The companion guide gives an in-depth analysis of this particular translation.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English companion, from Old French compaignon (“companion”) (modern French compagnon), from Late Latin compāniōn- (nominative singular compāniō, whence French copain), from com- + pānis (literally, with + bread), a word first attested in the Frankish Lex Salica as a calque of a Germanic word, probably Frankish *galaibo, *gahlaibō (“messmate”, literally “with-bread”), from Proto-Germanic *gahlaibô. Compare also Old High German galeipo (“messmate”) and Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌷𐌻𐌰𐌹𐌱𐌰 (gahlaiba, “messmate”); and, for the semantics, compare Old Armenian ընկեր (ənker, “friend”, literally “messmate”). More at co-, loaf. Displaced native Old English ġefēra (literally “fellow traveler”). Compare company and mate.

Synonyms

accompany, associate, company, comrade, familiar, fellow, fellow traveler, fellow traveller, keep company

Scrabble Score: 15

companion: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
companion: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
companion: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 20

companion: valid Words With Friends Word