fellow

The definition of a fellow is a man or a boy, especially a boyfriend or lover. The definition of a fellow is also a peer who is doing the same activities as you, or a student or scholar doing research that is being paid for.

(noun)

  1. A young boy is an example of a fellow.
  2. Your male lover is an example of your fellow.
  3. Your peers in your class are an example of your fellows.
  4. A member of an esteemed academic institution is an example of a fellow.
  5. A student who got a grant to do research on a subject is an example of a fellow.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See fellow in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. Obsolete a person who shares; partner or accomplice
  2. a companion; associate
  3. a person of the same class or rank; equal; peer
  4. either of a pair of corresponding things; mate
  5. a graduate student who holds a fellowship in a university or college
  6. a member of a learned society
  7. at some British and U.S. universities,
    1. a faculty member who is a member of the governing body
    2. a scholar, journalist, etc. who is appointed on a fellowship for a given period of research, teaching, or both
  8. Obsolete
    1. a person of a lower social class
    2. a coarse, rough man
  9. Informal
    1. a man or boy: often in familiar address
    2. a person; one: a fellow must eat
  10. Informal a suitor; beau

Origin: ME felaghe < Late OE feolaga, partner < feoh (see fee) + laga, a laying down (see law), after ON félagi: basic sense, “one laying down wealth for a joint undertaking”; fellowsenses , , , after L socius: see associate

adjective

  1. having the same ideas, position, work, etc.
  2. in the same condition; associated: fellow workers

See fellow in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A man or boy.
    b. Informal A boyfriend.
  2. A comrade or associate.
  3. a. A person of equal rank, position, or background; a peer.
    b. One of a pair; a mate: found the lost shoe and its fellow.
  4. A member of a learned society.
  5. A graduate student appointed to a position granting financial aid and providing for further study.
  6. Chiefly British
    a. An incorporated senior member of certain colleges and universities.
    b. A member of the governing body of certain colleges and universities.
  7. Obsolete A person of a lower social class.
adjective
Being of the same kind, group, occupation, society, or locality; having in common certain characteristics or interests: fellow workers.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English felau

Origin: , from Old English fēolaga

Origin: , from Old Norse fēlagi, business partner, fellow

Origin: , from fēlag, partnership

Origin: : , property, money; see peku- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + lag, a laying down; see legh- in Indo-European roots

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Word History: A jolly good fellow might or might not be the ideal business associate, but the ancestor of our word fellow definitely referred to a business partner. Fellow was borrowed into English from Old Norse fēlagi, meaning “a partner or shareholder of any kind.” Old Norse fēlagi is derived from fēlag, “partnership,” a compound made up of fē, “livestock, property, money,” and lag, “a laying in order” and “fellowship.” The notion of putting one's property together lies behind the senses of fēlagi meaning “partner” and “consort.” In Old Icelandic fēlagi also had the general sense “fellow, mate, comrade,” which fellow has as well, indicating perhaps that most partnerships turned out all right for speakers of Old Icelandic.

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