From Middle English companion, from Old French compaignon (modern French compagnon), from Late Latin (nominative singular compāniō, whence French copain), from com- + pānis (literally, with + bread), a word first attested in the Frankish Lex Salica as a calque of a Germanic word, probably Frankish *galaibo, *gahlaibō ("messmate"), from Proto-Germanic *gahlaibô.

• IPA: /kəmˈpænjən/

companion (plural companions)

1. A friend, acquaintance, or partner; someone with whom one spends time or accompanies

   His dog has been his trusted companion for the last five years.

   • 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act V, scene v]:

     Here are your sons again; and I must lose / Two of the sweetest companions in the world.

2. (dated) A person employed to accompany or travel with another.
3. (nautical) The framework on the quarterdeck of a sailing ship through which daylight entered the cabins below.
4. (nautical) The covering of a hatchway on an upper deck which leads to the companionway; the stairs themselves.
5. (topology) A knot in whose neighborhood another, specified knot meets every meridian disk.
6. (figuratively) A thing or phenomenon that is closely associated with another thing, phenomenon, or person.
7. (attributive) An appended source of media or information, designed to be used in conjunction with and to enhance the main material.

   The companion guide gives an in-depth analysis of this particular translation.

8. (astronomy) A celestial object that is associated with another.
9. A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders.

   a companion of the Bath

10. (obsolete, derogatory) A fellow; a rogue.
    • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene i], line 111:

      and let us knog our / prains together to be revenge on this same scald, scurvy, / cogging companion,

• See also Thesaurus:friend

• accompany, accompanying
• company

• French: compagnon, compagne
• German: Gefährte, Gefährtin
• Italian: amico, compagno
• Portuguese: acompanhante, companheiro
• Russian: това́рищ
• Spanish: compañero, compañera

companion (companions, present participle companioning; simple past and past participle companioned)

1. (obsolete) To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany.
   • 1865, John Ruskin, Precious Thoughts:

     we had better turn south quickly and compare the elements of education which formed , and of creation which companioned , Salvator .

2. (obsolete) To qualify as a companion; to make equal.
   • c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act I, scene ii]:

     Companion me with my mistress.