I. ˈkəmp-nē, ˈkəm-pə- noun
( plural -nies )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English companie, from cumpaignie, from cumpaing companion — more at companion
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : association with another : fellowship
enjoy a person's company
b. : companions, associates
know a person by the company she keeps
c. : visitors, guests
having company for dinner
2.
a. : a group of persons or things
a company of horsemen
b. : a body of soldiers ; especially : a unit (as of infantry) consisting usually of a headquarters and two or more platoons
c. : an organization of performing artists
d. : the officers and crew of a ship
e. : a firefighting unit
3.
a. : a chartered commercial organization or medieval trade guild
b. : an association of persons for carrying on a commercial or industrial enterprise
c. : those members of a partnership firm whose names do not appear in the firm name
John Doe and Company
II. verb
( -nied ; -ny·ing )
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
: accompany
may…fair winds company your safe return — John Masefield
intransitive verb
: associate