Companion

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: com=pan=ion

CIDE DICTIONARY

Companion, n. [F. compagnon, OF. compaing, fr. an assumed LL. companio (cf. companium fellowship, a mess), fr. L. com- + panis bread. See Pantry.].

•  One who accompanies or is in company with another for a longer or shorter period, either from choice or casually; one who is much in the company of, or is associated with, another or others; an associate; a comrade; a consort; a partner.  [1913 Webster]

  "The companions of his fall."  [1913 Webster]

  "The companion of fools shall smart for it."  [1913 Webster]

  "Here are your sons again; and I must lose
  Two of the sweetest companions in the world."  [1913 Webster]

  "A companion is one with whom we share our bread; a messmate."  [1913 Webster]
•  A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders; as, a companion of the Bath.  [1913 Webster]
•  A fellow; -- in contempt.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  A skylight on an upper deck with frames and sashes of various shapes, to admit light to a cabin or lower deck.  [1913 Webster]

Companion hatch (Naut.), a wooden porch over the entrance or staircase of the cabin. -- Companion ladder (Naut.), the ladder by which officers ascend to, or descend from, the quarter-deck. Totten. -- Companion way (Naut.), a staircase leading to the cabin. -- Knights companions, in certain honorary orders, the members of the lowest grades as distinguished from knights commanders, knights grand cross, and the like.

Syn. -- Associate; comrade; mate; compeer; partner; ally; confederate; coadjutor; accomplice.

Companion, v. t. 

•  To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany.  Ruskin.  [1913 Webster]
•  To qualify as a companion; to make equal.  [1913 Webster]

  "Companion me with my mistress."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Companion, n. & v.
--n.
1 a (often foll. by in, of) a person who accompanies, associates with, or shares with, another (a companion in adversity; they were close companions). b a person, esp. an unmarried or widowed woman, employed to live with and assist another.
2 a handbook or reference book on a particular subject (A Companion to North Wales).
3 a thing that matches another (the companion of this book-end is over there).
4 (Companion) a member of the lowest grade of some orders of knighthood (Companion of the Bath).
5 Astron. a star etc. that accompanies another.
6 equipment or a piece of equipment that combines several uses.
--v.
1 tr. accompany.
2 intr. literary (often foll. by with) be a companion.

Idiom

companion in arms a fellow-soldier. Companion of Honour (in the UK) a member of an order founded in 1917. Companion of Literature (in the UK) a member of an order founded in 1961. companion-set a set of fireside implements on a stand.

Companion, n. Naut.
1 a raised frame on a quarterdeck used for lighting the cabins etc. below.
2 = companion-way.

Idiom

companion-hatch a wooden covering over a companion-way. companion hatchway an opening in a deck leading to a cabin. companion ladder a ladder from a deck to a cabin. companion-way a staircase to a cabin.

Etymology

obs. Du. kompanje quarterdeck f. OF compagne f. It. (camera della) compagna pantry, prob. ult. rel. to COMPANION(1)

THESAURUS

Companion

Bayard, Don Quixote, Gawain, Lancelot, Ritter, Sidney, Sir Galahad, abigail, accompanier, accompanist, accompanyist, ace, adjunct, ally, alter ego, amah, amiable, amigo, analogon, analogue, associate, attend, attendant, au pair girl, ayah, bachelor, back, back stairs, balance rudder, banneret, baronet, batten, beak, beakhead, beam, bear, bedfellow, bedmate, betweenmaid, biddy, bilge keelson, bitt, board, bodyguard, bollard, bollard timber, bosom buddy, bow, bracket plate, bridge, bring, brother, brother-in-arms, buddy, bulkhead, bulwarks, bunkie, bunkmate, butty, caballero, cam cleat, camarade, capstan, carling, carry, casemate, cathead, cavalier, ceiling, centerboard, chamberfellow, chambermaid, chaperon, chaperone, chevalier, chum, classmate, cleat, close copy, close match, coadjutor, cognate, cohort, colleague, comate, companion, companion piece, companionable, companionway, company, compatriot, compeer, complacent, complement, comrade, concomitant, conduct, conductor, confederate, confrere, congenator, congener, conning tower, consociate, consort, consort with, convivial, convoy, cook, coordinate, copartner, copy, correlate, correlative, correspondent, counter, counterpart, crony, cutwater, daggerboard, davit, dead ringer, deadwood, double, duenna, duplicate, effigy, enchiridion, entrance, equivalent, escalier, escort, esquire, exact likeness, fantail, fellow, fellow member, fellow student, fellow traveler, femme de chambre, figurehead, fille de chambre, fire escape, flight of steps, forefoot, foresheets, foretop, frame, freeboard, futtock, gangplank, gangway, garboard strake, gentlewoman, girl, girl friend, good-natured, gossip, guard, gudgeon, guide, gunnel, gunwale, handbook, handmaid, handmaiden, hatch, hatchway, hawse, hawse timber, hawsehole, hawsepiece, hawsepipe, head, heel, hired girl, housemaid, icon, idol, image, incline, island, keel, keel and keelson, keelson, kevel, kindred spirit, kitchenmaid, knee, knight, knight bachelor, knight banneret, knight baronet, knight-errant, lady-help, lady-in-waiting, landing, landing stage, larboard, lee, lee side, leeward, like, likeness, live-in maid, live-out maid, living image, living picture, maid, maidservant, maintop, manual, match, mate, messmate, miniature, mirroring, mizzentop, model, near duplicate, nose, nursemaid, obverse, old crony, paddle wheel, pal, parallel, pard, pardner, parlormaid, partner, pendant, perron, photograph, picture, pintle, planking, playfellow, playmate, poop, port, porthole, portrait, portside, post, propeller, prow, pulpit, rail, ramp, reciprocal, reference book, reflection, resemblance, rib, roommate, rubbing, rubrail, rudder, rudderpost, rudderstock, run, running mate, safe-conduct, schoolfellow, schoolmate, scullery maid, scupper, scuttle, scuttlebutt, second self, semblance, servant girl, servitress, shadow, shaft tunnel, sheave hole, sheer strake, sheets, shelf, shelfpiece, shepherd, shipmate, side partner, sidekick, similitude, simulacrum, sister, skeg, snorkel, sociable, soubrette, soul mate, spiral staircase, spit and image, spitting image, squire, staircase, stairs, stairway, stanchion, starboard, stem, stepping-stones, steps, stern, stile, strake, such, suchlike, superstructure, swain, tail end, tally, teammate, the like of, the likes of, tiller, trace, tracing, transom, treads and risers, truck, tweeny, twin, upstairs maid, usher, very image, very picture, waiting maid, waterline, waterway, weather, weather side, weatherboard, wench, wheel, winch, windlass, windward, workfellow, yokefellow, yokemate

ROGET THESAURUS

Companion

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.

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.

Friend

N friend, friend of one's bosom, alter ego, best friend, bosom friend, soulmate, fast friend, amicus, usque ad aras, fidus Achates, persona grata, acquaintance, neighbor, next-door neighbor, casual acquaintance, nodding acquaintance, wellwisher, favorer, fautor, patron, Mecaenas, tutelary saint, good genius, advocate, partisan, sympathizer, ally, friend in need, comrade, mate, companion, familiar, confrere, comrade, camarade, confidante, intimate, old crony, crony, chum, pal, buddy, bosom buddy, playfellow, playmate, childhood friend, bedfellow, bedmate, chamber fellow, associate, colleague, compeer, schoolmate, schoolfellow, classfellow, classman, classmate, roommate, fellow-man, stable companion, best man, maid of honor, matron of honor, compatriot, fellow countryman, countryman, shopmate, fellow-worker, shipmate, messmate, fellow companion, boon companion, pot companion, copartner, partner, senior partner, junior partner, Arcades ambo Pylades and Orestes Castor and Pollux, Nisus and Euryalus, Damon and Pythias, par nobile fratrum, host, Amphitryon, Boniface, guest, visitor, prot_eg_e, amici probantur rebus adversis, ohne bruder kann man leben nicht ohne Freund, best friend, my well-spring in the wilderness, conocidos muchos amigos pocos, friend more divine than all divinities, vida sin amigo muerte sin testigo.