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companion1 definition

com·pan·ion (kəm pan′yən)

noun

  1. a person who associates with or accompanies another or others; associate; comrade
  2. a person employed to live or travel with another
  3. either of two persons not married to each other but otherwise in an intimate, spouse-like relationship: often, specif., used when the persons are of the same sex
  4. a member of the lowest rank in an order of knighthood
  5. a thing that matches another in sort, color, etc.; one of a pair or set
  6. a handbook on a specific subject a companion to French literature
  7. Obsolete a scoundrel

Etymology: ME compainoun < OFr compagnon < VL *companio, lit., bread fellow, messmate (calque of Goth gahlaiba, one who eats of the same bread < ga-, with + hlaifs, bread, loaf) < L com-, with + panis, bread

transitive verb

to accompany
companion2 definition

com·pan·ion (kəm pan′yən)

noun

  1. the covering at the head of a companionway
  2. companionway

Etymology: Du kampanje, quarterdeck < OFr compagne, steward's room in a galley < It (camera della) compagna, (room of the) company, crew < VL compania: see company

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

companion Synonyms

companion

n.

  1. An associate

    friend, partner, mate, comrade; see associate, friend 1, mate 2.

  2. One who accompanies another

    attendant, escort, chaperon, nurse, practical nurse, home health aide, governess, matron, safeguard, protector, guide, convoy. See syn. study at associate.associate.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

companion Usage Examples

Noun used with modifier

  • boon: The shops were all shut, and some rollicking boon companions came shouting along from the public-house.

Preposition: of

  • apostle: Thus the Gospels came into existence, two by apostles themselves, and two by friends and close companions of the apostles.

Adjective modifier

  • canine: The effect of a canine companion during the first year of a dog's life on the likelihood of referral appears to be quite limited.

Modifies a noun

  • planting: Covers topics such as sustain-ability, companion planting and seed propagation.

Noun used with modifier

  • dining: I had sat no further from a Cabinet Minister than from a dining companion, and had abused him according to my conscience.
companion usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

companion quotes

Apre'  s le rare bonheur de trouver une compagne qui nous soit bien assortie, l'e¤  tat le moins malheureux de la vie est sans doute de vivre seul. After the rare happiness of finding a companion with whom we are well matched, the least unpleasant state of life is without doubt to live alone.

-Bernardin de Saint-Pierre,Jacques-Henri

The ideal companion in bed is a good book.

-Davies, Robertson

I live in company with a body, a silent companion, exacting and eternal.He it iswho notesthat individuality whichistheseal oftheweakness ofourrace.Mysoul has wings, but the brutal jailer is strict.

-Delacroix, (Ferdinand Victor) Euge'  ne

companion quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"companion." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/companion>

APA Style

companion. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/companion

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