n.
Pronunciation: k ə m- ' pan-y ə n
Function: noun
Usage: often attrib
Etymology: Middle English compainoun, from Anglo-French cumpaing, cumpaignun, from Late Latin companion-, companio, from Latin com- + panis bread, food ― more at FOOD
Date: 13th century
1 : one that accompanies another : COMRADE , ASSOCIATE also : one that keeps company with another
2 obsolete : RASCAL
3 a : one that is closely connected with something similar b : one employed to live with and serve another
4 : a celestial body that appears close to another but that may or may not be associated with it in space