Companionship
/kəmˈpæniənʃɪp/noun
The state of being with others in friendly association or fellowship.
Did you know?Companion comes from Latin *companio*, meaning “one who shares bread,” from *com-* “with” + *panis* “bread,” so the word’s oldest core is an act of ritualized trust and survival.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peh₂-
“to feed, protect, or provide nourishment”
Latin
Latin
panis
“bread”
Late Latin
Latin
companio
“a messmate; one who shares bread”
Old French
Old French
compaignie
“association, fellowship, company”
Middle English
English
compaignie / companie
“friendly association; a group of people together”
Modern English
English
companionship
“the state of being with others in friendly association or fellowship”