[f. prec. + -SHIP.]
1. The relation of copartners: the possession of a joint share in any business, office or interest.
1574. trans. Marlorat’s Apocalips, 12. He … hathe taken vs intoo copartnership of hys office.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 128. In all Contracts, made for a copartnership in prouiding of a ioynt Stocke.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., vi. 19. Whose worship is uncapable of any Corrivalry or Copartnership.
1694. trans. Milton’s Lett. State (R. Cromwell to C. Gustavus 1658). The other … in Copartnership with one Peter Heinbergh, sail’d away for Stettin in Pomerania.
1871. Macduff, Mem. Patmos, x. 136. Hell or Hades, in grim copartnership, tracking his desolating path.
fig. 1745. J. Mason, Self-Knowl., I. i. (1853), 19. During this thy short Co-partnership with Flesh and Blood.
2. A company or association of copartners.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 12. To hold mankind together in little fraternities and copartnerships.
1866. Crump, Banking, ii. 46. A special clause, which all banking copartnerships take care to include in their regulations.
† 3. = COPARCENARY, sb. Obs.
a. 1676. Hale, Hist. Com. Law, xi. (1713), 210 (J.). In the case the Father left only Daughters and no Sons, the Daughters equally succeeded to their Father as in Co-partnership.
