Company

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: com=pa=ny

CIDE DICTIONARY

Company, n. [F. compagnie, fr. OF. compaing. See Companion.].

•  The state of being a companion or companions; the act of accompanying; fellowship; companionship; society; friendly intercourse.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "Evil company doth corrupt good manners."  [1913 Webster]

  "Brethren, farewell: your company along
  I will not wish."  [1913 Webster]
•  A companion or companions.  [1913 Webster]

  "To thee and thy company I bid
  A hearty welcome."  [1913 Webster]
•  An assemblage or association of persons, either permanent or transient.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thou shalt meet a company of prophets."  [1913 Webster]
•  Guests or visitors, in distinction from the members of a family; as, to invite company to dine.  [1913 Webster]
•  Society, in general; people assembled for social intercourse.  [1913 Webster]

  "Nature has left every man a capacity of being agreeable, though not of shining in company."  [1913 Webster]
•  An association of persons for the purpose of carrying on some enterprise or business; a corporation; a firm; as, the East India Company; an insurance company; a joint-stock company.  [1913 Webster]
•  Partners in a firm whose names are not mentioned in its style or title; -- often abbreviated in writing; as, Hottinguer & Co.  [1913 Webster]
•  A subdivision of a regiment of troops under the command of a captain, numbering in the United States (full strength) 100 men.  [1913 Webster]
•  The crew of a ship, including the officers; as, a whole ship's company.  [1913 Webster]
•  The body of actors employed in a theater or in the production of a play.  [1913 Webster]

To keep company with. See under Keep, v. t.

Syn. -- Assemblage; assembly; society; group; circle; crowd; troop; crew; gang; corporation; association; fraternity; guild; partnership; copartnery; union; club; party; gathering.

Company, v. t. 

 To accompany or go with; to be companion to.  [1913 Webster]

Company, v. i. 

•  To associate.  [1913 Webster]

  "Men which have companied with us all the time."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be a gay companion.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]
•  To have sexual commerce.  Bp. Hall.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Company, n. & v.
--n. (pl. -ies)
1 a a number of people assembled; a crowd; an audience (addressed the company). b guests or a guest (am expecting company).
2 a state of being a companion or fellow; companionship, esp. of a specific kind (enjoys low company; do not care for his company).
3 a a commercial business. b (usu. Co.) the partner or partners not named in the title of a firm (Smith and Co.).
4 a troupe of actors or entertainers.
5 Mil. a subdivision of an infantry battalion usu. commanded by a major or a captain.
6 a group of Guides.
--v. (-ies, -ied)
1 tr. archaic accompany.
2 intr. literary (often foll. by with) be a companion.

Idiom

company officer a captain or a lower commissioned officer. company Sergeant-major see SERGEANT. err (or be) in good company discover that one's companions, or better people, have done the same as oneself. good (or bad) company
1 a pleasant (or dull) companion.
2 a suitable (or unsuitable) associate or group of friends. in company not alone. in company with together with. keep company (often foll. by with) associate habitually. keep (archaic bear) a person company accompany a person; be sociable. part company (often foll. by with) cease to associate. ship's company the entire crew.

Etymology

ME f. AF compainie, OF compai(g)nie f. Rmc (as COMPANION(1))

THESAURUS

Company

Aktiengesellschaft, KP, ace, acting company, actors, affiliation, age group, agency, aggregation, aktiebolag, amigo, army, army group, assemblage, assembly, associate, associates, association, atelier, attend, attendance, band, barbershop, battalion, battery, battle group, bear, beauty parlor, beauty shop, bedfellow, bedmate, bench, bevy, body, body corporate, bosom buddy, brigade, bring, buddy, bunch, bunkie, bunkmate, business, business establishment, butcher shop, butty, cabal, cadre, caller, camarade, camaraderie, carry, cartel, cast, cast of characters, chamber of commerce, chamberfellow, chaperon, characters, chorus, chum, circle, circus troupe, classmate, clique, club, cohort, colleague, collection, column, comate, combat command, combat team, combine, commercial enterprise, community, compagnie, companion, companions, companionship, compeer, complement, comrade, comrades, comradeship, concern, conduct, confrere, conglomerate, conglomerate corporation, congregation, consociate, consociation, consolidating company, consort, consort with, consortium, consortship, contingent, convention, convoy, cooperation, copartner, copartnership, corporate body, corporation, corps, corps de ballet, coterie, covey, crew, crony, crowd, desk, detachment, detail, diversified corporation, division, dramatis personae, eight, eleven, ensemble, enterprise, entourage, establishment, facility, faction, fellow, fellow student, fellowship, field army, field train, file, firm, first string, first team, five, fleet, flock, flying column, followers, following, fraternity, fraternization, freeloader, frequenter, friends, gang, garrison, gate-crasher, gathering, girl friend, gossip, group, grouping, groupment, guest, guests, habitue, holding company, horde, house, in-group, industry, installation, institution, joint-stock association, joint-stock company, junta, kitchen police, legion, loft, maniple, mate, membership, messmate, mob, moocher, movement, muster, nine, old crony, operating company, order, organization, out-group, outfit, pack, pal, pard, pardner, parlor, partaking, participation, partner, partnership, party, peer group, phalanx, platoon, playfellow, playmate, plunderbund, pool, posse, presence, proprietorship, public utility, rank, regiment, repertory company, reserves, retinue, roommate, rowing crew, ruck, salon, schoolfellow, schoolmate, second string, second team, section, set, sharing, shipmate, shop, side partner, sidekick, society, squad, squadron, stable, stock company, string, studio, suite, supporting cast, sweatshop, syndicate, tactical unit, task force, team, teammate, third string, throng, trade association, train, tribe, troop, troupe, trust, uninvited guest, unit, utility, varsity, visitant, visitor, visitors, wing, work site, work space, workbench, workfellow, workhouse, working space, workplace, workroom, workshop, worktable, yokefellow, yokemate

ROGET THESAURUS

Company

The Drama

N the drama, the stage, the theater, the play, film the film, movies, motion pictures, cinema, cinematography, theatricals, dramaturgy, histrionic art, buskin, sock, cothurnus, Melpomene and Thalia, Thespis, play, drama, stage play, piece, five-act play, tragedy, comedy, opera, vaudeville, comedietta, lever de rideau, interlude, afterpiece, exode, farce, divertissement, extravaganza, burletta, harlequinade, pantomime, burlesque, opera bouffe, ballet, spectacle, masque, drame comedie drame, melodrama, melodrame, comidie larmoyante, sensation drama, tragicomedy, farcical-comedy, monodrame monologue, duologue trilogy, charade, proverbs, mystery, miracle play, musical, musical comedy, western, horse opera, flick, spy film, love story, adventure film, documentary, nature film, pornographic film, smoker, skin flick, X-rated film, act, scene, tableau, induction, introduction, prologue, epilogue, libretto, performance, representation, mise en scene, stagery, jeu de theatre, acting, gesture, impersonation, stage business, gag, buffoonery, light comedy, genteel comedy, low comedy, theater, playhouse, opera house, house, music hall, amphitheater, circus, hippodrome, theater in the round, puppet show, fantoccini, marionettes, Punch and Judy, auditory, auditorium, front of the house, stalls, boxes, pit, gallery, parquet, greenroom, coulisses, flat, drop, drop scene, wing, screen, side scene, transformation scene, curtain, act drop, proscenium, stage, scene, scenery, the boards, trap, mezzanine floor, flies, floats, footlights, offstage, orchestra, theatrical costume, theatrical properties, movie studio, back lot, on location, part, role, character, dramatis personae, repertoire, actor, thespian, player, method actor, stage player, strolling player, stager, performer, mime, mimer, artists, comedian, tragedian, tragedienne, Roscius, star, movie star, star of stage and screen, superstar, idol, sex symbol, supporting actor, supporting cast, ham, hamfatter, masker, pantomimist, clown harlequin, buffo, buffoon, farceur, grimacer, pantaloon, columbine, punchinello, pulcinello, pulcinella, extra, bit- player, walk-on role, cameo appearance, mute, figurante, general utility, super, supernumerary, company, first tragedian, prima donna, protagonist, jeune premier, debutant, debutante, light comedian, genteel comedian, low comedian, walking gentleman, amoroso, heavy father, ingenue, jeune veuve, mummer, guiser, guisard, gysart, masque, mountebank, Jack Pudding, tumbler, posture master, acrobat, contortionist, ballet dancer, ballet girl, chorus singer, coryphee danseuse, property man, costumier, machinist, prompter, call boy, manager, director, stage manager, acting manager, producer, entrepreneur, impresario, backer, investor, angel, dramatic author, dramatic writer, play writer, playwright, dramatist, mimographer, dramatic, theatric, theatrical, scenic, histrionic, comic, tragic, buskined, farcical, tragicomic, melodramatic, operatic, stagy, on the stage, on the boards, on film, before the floats, before an audience, behind the scenes, fere totus mundus exercet histrionem, suit the action to the word, the word to the action, the play's the thing, to wake the soul by tender strokes of art.

Assemblage

N assemblage, collection, collocation, colligation, compilation, levy, gathering, ingathering, muster, attroupement, team, concourse, conflux, congregation, contesseration, convergence, meeting, levee, reunion, drawing room, at home, conversazione, assembly, congress, convention, conventicle, gemote, conclave, posse, posse comitatus, Noah's ark, miscellany, collectanea, museum, menagerie, museology, crowd, throng, group, flood, rush, deluge, rabble, mob, press, crush, cohue, horde, body, tribe, crew, gang, knot, squad, band, party, swarm, shoal, school, covey, flock, herd, drove, atajo, bunch, drive, force, mulada, remuda, roundup, array, bevy, galaxy, corps, company, troop, troupe, task force, army, regiment, host, populousness, clan, brotherhood, fraternity, sorority, association, volley, shower, storm, cloud, group, cluster, Pleiades, clump, pencil, set, batch, lot, pack, budget, assortment, bunch, parcel, packet, package, bundle, fascine, fasces, bale, seron, seroon, fagot, wisp, truss, tuft, shock, rick, fardel, stack, sheaf, haycock, fascicle, fascicule, fasciculus, gavel, hattock, stook, accumulation, congeries, heap, lump, pile, rouleau, tissue, mass, pyramid, bing, drift, snowball, snowdrift, acervation, cumulation, glomeration, agglomeration, conglobation, conglomeration, conglomerate, coacervate, coacervation, coagmentation, aggregation, concentration, congestion, omnium gaterum, spicilegium, black hole of Calcutta, quantity, collector, gatherer, whip, whipper in, assembled, closely packed, dense, serried, crowded to suffocation, teeming, swarming, populous, as thick as hops, all of a heap, fasciculated cumulative, the plot thickens, acervatim, tibi seris tibi metis.

Accompaniment

N accompaniment, adjunct, context, appendage, appurtenance, coexistence, concomitance, company, association, companionship, partnership, copartnership, coefficiency, concomitant, accessory, coefficient, companion, buddy, attendant, fellow, associate, friend, colleague, consort, spouse, mate, partner, co-partner, satellite, hanger on, fellow-traveller, shadow, escort, cortege, attribute, accompanying, concomitant, fellow, twin, joint, associated with, coupled with, accessory, attendant, obbligato, with, withal, together with, along with, in company with, hand in hand, side by side, cheek by jowl, cheek by jole, arm in arm, therewith, herewith, and, together, in a body, collectively, noscitur a sociis, virtutis fortuna comes.

Party

N party, faction, side, denomination, communion, set, crew, band, horde, posse, phalanx, family, clan, team, tong, council, community, body, fellowship, sodality, solidarity, confraternity, familistere, familistery, brotherhood, sisterhood, knot, gang, clique, ring, circle, group, crowd, in-crowd, coterie, club, casino, machine, Tammany, Tammany Hall, corporation, corporate body, guild, establishment, company, copartnership, partnership, firm, house, joint concern, joint-stock company, cahoot, combine, trust, society, association, institute, institution, union, trades union, league, syndicate, alliance, Verein, Bund, Zollverein, combination, Turnverein, league offensive and defensive, alliance offensive and defensive, coalition, federation, confederation, confederacy, junto, cabal, camarilla, camorra, brigue, freemasonry, party spirit, Confederates, Conservatives, Democrats, Federalists, Federals, Freemason, Knight Templar, Kuklux, Kuklux Klan, KKK, Liberals, Luddites, Republicans, Socialists, Tories, Whigs staff, dramatis personae, in league, in partnership, in alliance, bonded together, banded together, linked, joined together, embattled, confederated, federative, joint, hand in hand, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, en masse, in the same boat.

Combatant

N combatant, disputant, controversialist, polemic, litigant, belligerent, competitor, rival, corrival, fighter, assailant, champion, Paladin, mosstrooper, swashbuckler fire eater, duelist, bully, bludgeon man, rough, prize fighter, pugilist, boxer, bruiser, the fancy, gladiator, athlete, wrestler, fighting-cock, game-cock, warrior, soldier, fighting man, Amazon, man at arms, armigerent, campaigner, veteran, swordsman, sabreur, redcoat, military man, Rajput, armed force, troops, soldiery, military forces, sabaoth, the army, standing army, regulars, the line, troops of the line, militia, yeomanry, volunteers, trainband, fencible, auxiliary, bersagliere, brave, garde-nationale, garde-royale, minuteman, auxiliary forces, reserve forces, reserves, posse comitatus, national guard, gendarme, beefeater, guards, guardsman, yeomen of the guard, life guards, household troops, janissary, myrmidon, Mama, Mameluke, spahee, spahi, Cossack, Croat, Pandoz, irregular, guerilla, partisan, condottiere, franctireur, tirailleur, bashi-bazouk, vietminh, vietcong, shining path, contras, huk, hukbalahap, mercenary, soldier of fortune, hired gun, gunfighter, gunslinger, bushwhacker, free lance, companion, Hessian, hit man torpedo, soldier, levy, draught, Landwehr, Landsturm, conscript, recruit, cadet, raw levies, infantry, infantryman, private, private soldier, foot soldier, Tommy Atkins, rank and file, peon, trooper, sepoy, legionnaire, legionary, cannon fodder, food for powder, officer, subaltern, ensign, standard bearer, spearman, pikeman, spear bearer, halberdier, lancer, musketeer, carabineer, rifleman, jager, sharpshooter, yager, skirmisher, grenadier, fusileer, archer, bowman, horse and foot, horse soldier, cavalry, horse, artillery, horse artillery, light horse, voltigeur, uhlan, mounted rifles, dragoon, hussar, light dragoon, heavy dragoon, heavy, cuirassier, Foot Guards, Horse Guards, gunner, cannoneer, bombardier, artilleryman, matross, sapper, sapper and miner, engineer, light infantry, rifles, chasseur, zouave, military train, coolie, army, corps d'armee, host, division, battalia, column, wing, detachment, garrison, flying column, brigade, regiment, corps, battalion, sotnia, squadron, company, platoon, battery, subdivision, section, squad, piquet, picket, guard, rank, file, legion, phalanx, cohort, cloud of skirmishers, war horse, charger, destrier, marine, man-of-war's man, navy, wooden walls, naval forces, fleet, flotilla, armada, squadron, man-of-war, destroyer, submarine, minesweeper, torpedo-boat, torpedo-destroyer, patrol torpedo boat, PT boat, torpedo- catcher, war castle, H, M, S, battleship, battle wagon, dreadnought, line of battle ship, ship of the line, aircraft carrier, carrier, flattop, helicopter carrier, missile platform, missile boat, ironclad, turret ship, ram, monitor, floating battery, first- rate, frigate, sloop of war, corvette, gunboat, bomb vessel, flagship, guard ship, cruiser, armored cruiser, protected cruiser, privateer, tender, store ship, troop ship, transport, catamaran, merchant marine.

Sociality

N sociality, sociability, sociableness, social intercourse, consociation, intercourse, intercommunity, consortship, companionship, comradeship, clubbism, esprit de corps, conviviality, good fellowship, good company, joviality, jollity, savoir vivre, festivity, festive board, merrymaking, loving cup, hospitality, heartiness, cheer, welcome, welcomeness, greeting, hearty welcome, hearty reception, warm reception, urbanity, familiarity, good fellow, jolly fellow, bon enfant, bawcock, social circle, family circle, circle of acquaintance, coterie, society, company, social gathering, social reunion, assembly, barbecue, bee, corn-husking, corn-shucking, house raising, barn raising, husking, husking-bee, infare, party, entertainment, reception, levee, at, home, conversazione, soiree, matin_ee, evening party, morning party, afternoon party, bridge party, garden party, surprise party, kettle, kettle drum, partie carr_ee, dish of tea, ridotto, rout, housewarming, ball, festival, smoker, smoker-party, sociable, stag party, hen party, tamasha, tea-party, tea-fight, (amusement), the feast of reason and the flow of soul, birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve party, Thanksgiving Day Dinner, bonenkai, wedding reception, visiting, round of visits, call, morning call, interview, assignation, tryst, trysting place, appointment, club, sociable, companionable, clubbable, conversable, cosy, cosey, chatty, conversational, homiletical, convivial, festive, festal, jovial, jolly, hospitable, welcome, welcome as the roses in May, f=eted, entertained, free and easy, hall fellow well met, familiar, on visiting terms, acquainted, social, neighborly, international, gregarious, en famille, in the family circle, sans fa, arm in arm, a crowd is not company, be bright and jovial among your guests tonight, his worth is warrant for his welcome, let's be red with mirth, welcome the coming speed the parting guest.