Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “companion” come from?

Companion comes from Middle English companion, from Old French compaignon, from Late Latin companio, formed from Latin com- (with) and panis (bread), originally denoting one who shares bread.

companion (English): A friend, acquaintance, or partner; someone with...

Definitions

  1. A friend, acquaintance, or partner; someone with...

Ancestry of “companion”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcompanion—
2Old Frenchcompaignonfriend; colleague, companion
3Late Latincompanioa person who shares the bread; companion
4Latincom-allomorph of con-
5Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “companion”

  • companionship
  • companionable
  • companionway
  • companionate
  • companionably
  • companionless
  • uncompanionable
  • companionableness
  • companionhood
  • companionly
  • uncompanionably
  • companionlessness
  • uncompanionableness
  • companioness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →