Forms: 3–4 compainoun, 4 -aynoun, -aignyon, cumpayngnoun, 5 companyoun, 6 com-, coompanyon, compaignion, Sc. paniȝeon, 6– companion. [a. OF. compaignon, -pagnon = Pr. compagnó, It. compagnone:—late L. compāniōn-em, acc. of compānio, whence It. compagno, Pr. nom. companh, OF. nom. compain, -paing, -painz. The late L. word is a deriv. of com- together + pān-is bread (the formation as in L. centūrio, libellio, etc.); perh., as Diez thinks, after the pattern of Goth. gahlaiba, OHG. galeipo mess-mate, similarly f. hlaib, leip, bread. The pl. conpāniōnes, and sb. of state conpānium ‘company’ (cf. L. contubernium, convīvium, etc.), occur in the Salic Law lxiii. § 1. in a MS. of c 800; in Romanic conpagn (voc.) occurs in a gloss. of c 825: see Diez.
(Besides these OF. had compaigne (f.) company, compaigne, compaignesse (f.) female companion, compaignet, -ette, dim., compaignier (m.) companion, and many derivatives.)]
1. One who associates with or accompanies another; a mate; a fellow.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 552. To be is compainoun, Wiþ him to wende aboute.
13[?]. in Rel. Ant., II. 245. To Symon cumpayngnoun ic habbe y-ȝyve power of disciplyne.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 107. His loyal felowe and companyoun.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), E e viij. My specyall freende and auncient compaignion.
a. 1535. More, On the Passion, Wks. 1311/2. One companion of the companye was a very false trayterous wretche.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 311. Throughout all Fraunce, sundrie companies went together robbyng and spoylyng the Countrie, and they were called the Companions.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, I. i. 72. Who is his companion now? He hath euery month a new sworne brother. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., V. v. 21. Arise my Knights o’ th’ Battell, I create you Companions to our person.
1653. Walton, Angler, 46. A companion that feasts the company with wit and mirth.
1730. Pope, Lett. to Gay, Wks. 1737, VI. 186. Companions I have enough, friends few.
1863. Ruskin, Munera P. (1880), 164. I passed not alone, but with a Companion.
b. An associate in, a sharer or partaker of. Companion-in-arms: fellow-soldier.
1526–34. Tindale, Rev. i. 9. I Ihon youre brother and companyon in tribulacion [so 1611].
1552. Huloet, Companion in warres, sinstratiotes. Companion to an act, complices.
1611. Cotgr., Compagnon d’armes, a companion or fellow in armes.
1635. Quarles, Embl., II. ii. (1718), 71. They that were once companions in sin.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 76. There the companions of his fall … He soon discerns.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 205, ¶ 4. The companions of his retreat.
1864. Kingsley, Rom. & Teut., iii. (1875). 48. The ‘thegns,’ who lived and died as their companions-in-arms.
† c. An associate at table or at the bottle; esp. in boon companion (F. bon compagnon, see BOON a.), formerly also † good companion, good fellow.
1566–1884. [Bone, boone, boon c.: see BOON a. 4].
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 730. At every table were … five or sixe gentlemen, of the best companyons of the whole countrey. Ibid., 733. The Cardinall was a good companion, and a Chaplayne meete for suche a daliyng pastyme.
1653. [see 1].
† 2. One of two or more associated in some specific or legal relation: a colleague, partner, etc. Often, like ‘partner,’ ‘consort,’ applied to a wife. Obs.
1535. Coverdale, Malachi ii. 14. Yet is she thyne owne companyon and maried wife.
1552. Huloet, Companion or felowe in office, collega.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 129 a. Adjudged before … sir Robert Danbye late chief justice of the common place, and his compaignions.
1592. West, Symbol., I. § 26. The same societie is in the goods and thinges of all the companions.
1618. Wither, Motto, Wks. (1633), 524. I have no meaning, whensoere I wed, That my companion shall become my head.
1642. Perkins, Prof. Bk., iii. § 220. If two joynt tenants are in fee and one of them doth enfeoff a stranger of the whole against the will of his companion.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 81. [Here] by the king’s companion is meant his wife.
3. fig. of things. Often as a title of books of reference; a vade-mecum.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 2 b. In Trees, Plantes, and Beastes … these dumbe companions.
1716. E. Hatton (title), Comes Commercii, or the Trader’s Companion.
1859. Halliwell & Wright, Nares’ Gloss., Pref. 4. It is a necessary companion to the dramatic writers.
1882. Pebody, Eng. Journalism, xviii. 140. With no companion but a pocket compass.
† 4. As a term of familiarity or contempt. Cf. ‘fellow.’ (Cf. Ger. geselle, F. petit compagnon.)
1581. Rich, Farewell (Shaks. Soc.), 172. This companion accused Gonsales upon his owne words unto the freendes of Agatha.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 132. I scorne you, scuruie Companion.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Apol. (1650), 10. Which gives boldnesse to every petty Companion to spread Rumours to my Defamation and the wounding of my Reputation, in all places where I cannot be present to make them Knaves and Lyars.
1671. H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 130. Thou jeering companion, how thou art still the same man, like thy self!
1764. Foote, Mayor of G., I. 7. Insolent companion! had I been here, I would have mittimus’d the rascal at once.
5. A member of an order of knighthood: originally a general term, now indicating the lowest grade; as Companion of the Bath (C. B.), Companion of the Star of India (C. S. I.). (See COMMANDER 4.)
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 695. Eche beyng companion of others order: for the king wore the golden Fleece, & the Duke [of Burgundy] wore the Garter.
1725. Stat. of the Bath, 4. This order shall consist of the Sovereign … and of Thirty five other Companions.
1835. Penny Cycl., IV. 24/1. [Bulletin of Jan. 2, 1815] The third class to be composed of officers holding commissions in his Majesty’s service by sea or land, who shall be styled companions of the said order.
6. Used to translate F. compagnon or Ger. geselle, journeyman. (Cf. companionship.)
1776. [see COMPANIONSHIP 2].
1864. Kirk, Chas. Bold, I. II. i. 446. Whether as apprentices, ‘companions,’ or masters, they were all members of a guild.
7. A person who lives with another in need of society, and who, though receiving remuneration, is treated rather as a friend and equal than as an inferior or servant. (Now usually of women.)
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xxxii. He now resides in quality of companion at a relation’s house.
1883. F. M. Crawford, Dr. Claudius, viii. 111. The proper aspect of the lady-companion.
1885. Law Times Rep., LIII. 5/2. Miss F. P. … his late step-daughter’s friend and companion.
8. A thing that matches or resembles another, e.g., one of a pair or set of pictures. (Cf. 9 b.)
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 52. At Hamburgh he began a companion to it.
1875. Fortnum, Maiolica, xi. 106. A companion of a plate preserved in the Louvre.
9. attrib. and quasi-adj. a. of persons. Companion cavalry, the horse-guards in the Macedonian army (οἱ ἑταῖροι).
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faust., vi. 92. I am Lucifer, And this is my companion-prince in hell.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 93. Most mighty Liege, and my companion Peeres. Ibid. (1608), Per., V. i. 78. Provided That none but I and my companion maid Be suffer’d to come near him.
1856. Grote, Greece, II. xciii. XII. 221. The fierce onset of Alexander with the companion-cavalry.
b. of things. (Cf. sense 8.)
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, VI. vii. The first unhappiness—what a companion piece for the first love.
1850. Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Monast. Ord. (1863), 342. The companion picture was the ‘St. Elizabeth.’
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 7. The companion Dialogues of the Lysis and Laches.
1885. Law Times, 23 May, 63/2. A companion volume.
10. Comb., as companion-like.
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 327. My Lord tooke him, to bee his companion-like seruant. Ibid., 341.
