See Also: COMPANION, dom(law)
companion(dictionary)
companion(2)(dictionary)
companion(1)(dictionary)
Companion bonds(money)
companion vein(medicine)
Companion of Honour, the(dictionary)
boon companion(dictionary)
companion cell(medicine)
companion artery to sciatic nerve(medicine)

companion(1) (iou)



companion noun1 & verb. ME.
[Old French compaignon from Proto-Romance, from Latin COM- + panis bread.]
A. noun.
I.
A person who associates with or accompanies another; an associate in, a sharer of. ME.
b. A (worthless) person, a fellow. L16-M18.
Each of two or more people associated in a specific or legal relation. M16-M18.
(Also Companion.) A member of an order of knighthood. Now spec. a member of the lowest grade of some orders of distinction. M16.
Companion of the Bath etc.
A person, usu. a woman, who is paid to live with and accompany another. M18.
A journeyman. obsolete exc. Hist. L18.
II.
A necessary guide or aid to a particular pursuit; esp. (a) a handbook or reference book to a specific subject, locality, etc. (freq. as part of the title); (b) (a piece of) equipment combining several requisites. E18.
A thing that matches or closely resembles another. L18.
A star etc. that accompanies another; esp. the fainter component of a double star system. E19.
Phrases: boon companion: see BOON adjective. companion in arms a fellow-soldier. Companion of Honour a member of a British order for those who have rendered conspicuous service to the nation. Companion of Literature (a recipient of) an honour conferred by the Royal Society of Literature. free companion: see FREE adjective. lady's companion: see LADY noun & adjective. native companion: see NATIVE adjective.
Attrib. & comb.: In the sense 'that is a companion, that matches', as companion piece, companion volume, etc. Special combs., as companion-cell Botany a specialized elongated parenchymatous cell connected to a sieve-tube in the phloem of some flowering plants; companion-set a set of fireside implements on a stand; companion star = sense 8 above.
b. verb.
verb refl. & intrans. Keep company, consort, with. literary. E17.
verb trans. Go or be with as a companion; accompany (lit. & fig.). E17.
companionage noun (a list of) the body of companions of various orders L19.
companionhood noun companionship M19.
companionless adjective E19.
companionry noun (chiefly Scot.) companionship L16-E18.