a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another: my son and his two companions.
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)
8.
to be a companion to; accompany.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME compainoun < AF; OF compaignon < LL compāniōn- (s. of compāniō) messmate, equiv. to com-com-+ pān(is) bread + -iōn--ion; presumably as trans. of a Gmc word; cf. Goth gahlaiba, OHG galeipo]
—Related forms
com·pan·ion·less, adjective
—Synonyms 1. comrade, partner, mate. See acquaintance.
A person who accompanies or associates with another; a comrade.
A domestic partner.
A person employed to assist, live with, or travel with another.
One of a pair or set of things; a mate.
tr.v.
com·pan·ioned, com·pan·ion·ing, com·pan·ions
To be a companion to; accompany.
[Middle English compaignyon, from Old French compaignon, from Vulgar Latin *compāniō, *compāniōn- : Latin com-, com- + Latin pānis, bread; see pā- in Indo-European roots.]
1297, from O.Fr. compaignon "fellow, mate," from L.L. companionem (nom. companio), lit. "bread fellow, messmate," from L. com- "with" + panis "bread." Found first in 6c. Frankish Lex Salica, and probably a translation of a Gmc. word (cf. Gothic gahlaiba "messmate," from hlaib "loaf of bread"). Replaced O.E. gefera "traveling companion," from faran "go, fare."
Com*pan"ion\, n. [F. compagnon, OF. compaing, fr. an assumed LL. companio (cf. companium fellowship, a mess), fr. L. com- + panis bread. See Pantry.]1. One who accompanies or is in company with another for a longer or shorter period, either from choice or casually; one who is much in the company of, or is associated with, another or others; an associate; a comrade; a consort; a partner. The companions of his fall. --Milton. The companion of fools shall smart for it. --Prov. xiii. 20 (Rev. Ver.). Here are your sons again; and I must lose Two of the sweetest companions in the world. --Shak. A companion is one with whom we share our bread; a messmate. --Trench. 2. A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders; as, a companion of the Bath. 3. A fellow; -- in contempt. [Obs.] --Shak. 4. [Cf. OSp. compa[~n]a an outhouse, office.] (Naut.) (a) A skylight on an upper deck with frames and sashes of various shapes, to admit light to a cabin or lower deck. (b) A wooden hood or penthouse covering the companion way; a companion hatch. Companion hatch (Naut.), a wooden porch over the entrance or staircase of the cabin. Companion ladder (Naut.), the ladder by which officers ascend to, or descend from, the quarter-deck. --Totten. Companion way (Naut.), a staircase leading to the cabin. Knights companions, in certain honorary orders, the members of the lowest grades as distinguished from knights commanders, knights grand cross, and the like. Syn: Associate; comrade; mate; compeer; partner; ally; confederate; coadjutor; accomplice.
Com*pan"ion\, v. t. 1. To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany. [R.] --Ruskin. 2. To qualify as a companion; to make equal. [Obs.] Companion me with my mistress. --Shak.
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