companion 1
— companionless , adj.
/keuhm pan"yeuhn/ , n.
1. a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another: my son and his two companions.
2. a person employed to accompany, assist, or live with another in the capacity of a helpful friend.
3. a mate or match for something: White wine is the usual companion of fish.
4. a handbook or guide: a bird watcher's companion.
5. a member of the lowest rank in an order of knighthood or of a grade in an order.
6. Also called companion star, comes . Astron. the fainter of the two stars that constitute a double star. Cf. primary (def. 19b).
7. Obs. a fellow.
v.t.
8. to be a companion to; accompany.
[ 1250-1300; ME compainoun compaignon companion- (s. of companio ) messmate, equiv. to com- COM- + pan ( is ) bread + -ion- -ION; presumably as trans. of a Gmc word; cf. Goth gahlaiba, OHG galeipo ]
Syn. 1. comrade, partner, mate. See acquaintance .
companion 2
/keuhm pan"yeuhn/ , n. Naut.
1. a covering over the top of a companionway.
2. a companionway.
[ 1755-65; alter. of D kampanje quarterdeck chambre de la ) compagne pantry of a medieval galley ]